Is flu going around in the US right now?
Is this flu season worse than usual? Live influenza activity in the United States with 12-week trend, based on CDC NHSN weekly hospital admission rates and FluView surveillance.
Influenza: Low
Low
No. Flu activity in the United States is currently low and rising (as of 28 Aug 2026).
Data window: Week 34 · Aug 17 – Aug 23 · Source: CDC (weekly) · Update overdue: source publishing late
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View the last 8 weeks
In week 34 of 2026, Influenza activity in the United States is classified as low.
The reported value is 20% higher than in week 33.
Across the last 8 reported weeks the highest reading was week 34; the level was low in 8 of them.
The last 8 reported weeks
| Week | Relative | Level | vs prior week |
|---|---|---|---|
| Week 34 | 100 | Low | +20% |
| Week 33 | 83 | Low | +5% |
| Week 32 | 79 | Low | unchanged |
| Week 31 | 79 | Low | −10% |
| Week 30 | 88 | Low | +5% |
| Week 29 | 83 | Low | −9% |
| Week 28 | 92 | Low | unchanged |
| Week 27 | 92 | Low | – |
Relative means the highest of these weekly values is set to 100. Exact incidence rates are in the app.
Current activity
- InfluenzaLowrisingWeek 34Trend: rising · Week 34
- COVID-19LowrisingWeek 34Trend: rising · Week 34
- RSVLowstableWeek 34Trend: stable · Week 34
What this means
In week 34 of 2026, activity of influenza (seasonal flu) in the United States is low. The trend, derived from clinical surveillance, is rising. A clear upward movement has emerged over the past few weeks.
Data, context and methodology
The current picture for the United States is built on the CDC's National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) weekly hospital admissions data. NHSN collects laboratory-confirmed admission rates per 100,000 population for influenza, COVID-19 and RSV, submitted by participating hospitals nationwide. We rescale these hospitalization rates into a consultation-equivalent signal so the qualitative “low / moderate / high” categories are consistent with how we report other countries.
CDC NHSN (Hospital Respiratory Data)
NHSN is the CDC's national surveillance system for healthcare-associated infections. Since 2022, hospitals report weekly counts of confirmed influenza, COVID-19 and RSV admissions. We use the jurisdiction-level USA rates (admissions per 100,000 population per week), which give an unbiased picture of severe illness pressure on the healthcare system.
CDC FluView
CDC FluView is the long-running weekly flu surveillance report, drawing on outpatient ILI visits via the ILINet sentinel network, public health laboratory results, and hospitalization data. While our headline level is driven by NHSN, FluView provides the context for how a season compares to the typical seasonal curve.
Why hospitalization rates
Unlike clinic visits or self-reports, hospital admissions remain reliable across changes in testing behaviour and reporting practices. They reflect severe outcomes, the load that matters most for health-system capacity, and are reported with a roughly one-week lag.
Qualitative classification
The “low”, “moderate” and “high” categories follow seasonal reference values and epidemiological thresholds calibrated to match our classifications for other countries. Hospitalization rates are scaled to consultation-equivalent incidence using pathogen-specific conversion factors derived from typical seasonal peaks in both systems. Data refreshes weekly when the CDC publishes the latest NHSN update, typically late in the week.
Source and seasonal pattern by pathogen
- Influenza
- The classification is based on the CDC's NHSN weekly hospitalization data and the FluView surveillance report. Seasonally, infection waves in the United States typically peak between December and February; activity is usually markedly lower during the summer months.
- COVID-19
- The classification is based on CDC NHSN weekly confirmed COVID-19 hospital admissions per 100,000 population. Seasonally, infection waves in the United States typically peak during winter, with frequent summer waves driven by new variants; activity is usually markedly lower in late spring between waves.
- RSV
- The classification is based on CDC NHSN weekly RSV hospital admissions and the RSV-NET surveillance system. Seasonally, infection waves in the United States typically peak between November and February; activity is usually markedly lower in spring and summer.
Frequently asked questions
When is flu season in the United States?
Flu season in the US typically runs from October through May. Activity usually begins climbing in late October or November, peaks between December and February, and tails off through April. The exact timing and intensity vary considerably year to year and region to region, influenced by the circulating influenza subtypes and population immunity carried over from previous seasons.
How bad is the current flu season?
The overall picture is tracked by the CDC through its weekly FluView report and NHSN hospital admissions data. The CDC classifies seasonal activity on a scale from minimal to very high, based on indicators like outpatient visits for influenza-like illness (ILI), laboratory-confirmed cases, and hospitalization rates. A season is considered severe when hospital admission rates climb past the thresholds observed in past severe years.
What's the difference between the flu and a cold?
The flu (influenza) typically comes on abruptly with high fever, body aches, a dry cough, and significant fatigue. A cold develops more gradually and is usually milder, with symptoms like a runny nose, sore throat, and mild cough, rarely with fever in adults. The flu is more likely to cause serious complications, especially in older adults, young children, and people with chronic conditions.
Should I get a flu shot?
The CDC recommends an annual flu vaccine for everyone aged 6 months and older, with rare exceptions. The shot is especially important for people at higher risk of complications: adults over 65, pregnant women, young children, and those with chronic conditions like asthma, heart disease, or diabetes. The vaccine takes about two weeks to become fully effective, so getting vaccinated early in the season offers the best protection.
How do I protect myself from the flu?
Vaccination is the most effective single measure. Beyond that, frequent handwashing, avoiding close contact with visibly ill people, covering coughs and sneezes, and staying home when sick all reduce community transmission. Indoor ventilation and, in high-risk settings, well-fitted masks provide additional protection during peak season.
More situation reports
Data last refreshed: Sep 1, 2026, 12:01. Update cadence: weekly.
This page is not medical advice and does not replace consultation with a healthcare professional. For specific symptoms, please contact a medical professional.
About this page
Published by Renderei Martin GmbH, Berlin. No commercial interest in individual health recommendations. The app is optionally monetised via a freemium subscription.
Content is based exclusively on the linked official surveillance publications. Medical statements are curated against the guidance of RKI, ECDC and WHO.
Methodology enquiries: press@infectrisk.com