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Weekly Flu Update: Flu Activity Trend Going Up Again

February 6, 2026 at 02:09 PM EST
UPDATED by WeatherBug Meteorologist, Andrew Rosenthal
Flu Update Valid For Week Ending January 31, 2026

Cold and dry weather across much of the country has kept the flu going into February. Fortunately, some regions are starting to wriggle away from the virus.

Patient visits for respiratory illnesses decreased to 4.4%, which is still above the national baseline. Eight pediatric deaths this week could be attributed to the flu, bringing the total to 60, and 1.2% of all deaths were attributable to the flu. Of all clinical lab tests, 18.0% were positive for influenza.

Our flu surveillance product will continue to focus on the severity of the flu rather than the geographic spread. This information is reported to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) by each state’s health department, ranging on a scale from “minimal” to “very high” levels of activity.

States and territories reporting flu include the following activity and trends:

Very High (7 states): Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Oregon, South Carolina and Tennessee.

  • Arkansas and Tennessee saw a one-step increase from High to Very High.
  • Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Oregon and South Carolina all had Very High flu activity last week.

High (20 states): Alabama, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas, Virginia and Washington.

  • Kentucky saw an increase in activity, going from Moderate to High this week.
  • Alabama, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Virginia and Washington all remained with High flu activity, the same as last week.
  • Texas saw flu activity drop from Very High to High.

Moderate (6 states and Puerto Rico): Arizona, Indiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada and New Jersey.

  • Puerto Rico saw a two-step increase from Minimal to Moderate.
  • Nevada’s flu activity increased by one level, from Low to Moderate.
  • Arizona and Minnesota remain at Moderate levels.
  • Indiana, Massachusetts and New Jersey were all High levels last week and have dropped to Moderate.

Low (12 states): Alaska, Connecticut, Illinois, Maryland, Montana, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia and Wisconsin

  • Montana increased one step from Minimal to Low.
  • Connecticut, Illinois, Vermont and Wisconsin were Low last week and remain at Low.
  • Alaska, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota and West Virginia all saw flu activity decrease by one step to Low.

Minimal (5 states, the Northern Marianas, the Virgin Islands, New York City and Washington, D.C.): Delaware, Hawaii, North Dakota, Utah and Wyoming

  • The Northern Marianas and Virgin Islands did not report last week.
  • Washington, D.C., Hawaii, Utah and Wyoming all remain at Minimal flu levels.
  • Delaware, New York City and North Dakota all decreased one step from Low to Minimal.

Flu Facts:
 The CDC recommends that everyone older than six months get the seasonal flu vaccine, either via an injection or nasal spray. Consult with your doctor or pharmacist to learn about flu vaccine side effects, precautions, and vaccine options—several multi-strain variations are available this year.
    
 Due to certain health restrictions, not everyone is eligible to receive the flu shot. If you cannot get vaccinated, there are other ways to minimize your risk of contracting and spreading the flu:

  • Avoid close contact with those who are sick.
  • If you are sick, avoid exposing others by staying home from work or school.
  • Cover your mouth and nose when sneezing or coughing.
  • Wash your hands frequently.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth.

Lastly, getting a flu shot is not a guarantee that you won’t catch the flu, but it can help reduce the risk and severity of symptoms. The CDC urges doctors to prescribe one or a combination of the three available prescription antiviral drugs to patients with flu-like symptoms. If given early enough, antivirals can lessen the intensity and duration of influenza symptoms.
    
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Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention