CDC says flu remains elevated as pediatric impact stays severe; officials urge vaccination and early antiviral treatment
CDC surveillance shows the 2025–26 flu season remains elevated nationally, with pediatric severity classified as high even as overall activity has stabilized. Public health officials emphasize vaccination, early use of antivirals for high-risk patients, and continued monitoring for another post-holiday rise.
Flu season remains elevated, with children hit hardest
New CDC FluView surveillance updates indicate that influenza activity across the United States remains elevated, though recent weeks have shown decreases or stability. Despite that leveling, the pediatric picture remains especially concerning: CDC’s in-season severity assessment classifies the overall season as moderate across all ages, while the pediatric category is classified as high severity.
In practical terms, that means hospitals and pediatric practices may continue to see significant demand even if headline indicators look steadier. Public health officials warn that respiratory virus patterns can shift after the winter holidays, and a second rise is possible depending on travel, school schedules, and viral dynamics.
What the latest surveillance highlights
CDC reports show influenza A(H3N2) viruses as the most frequently reported subtype so far this season, a detail that matters because subtype mix can influence hospitalization patterns and the clinical burden on different age groups. Surveillance also tracks hospitalizations, mortality indicators, and pediatric deaths reported to CDC.
CDC’s estimates suggest the flu season has already produced millions of illnesses and hundreds of thousands of hospitalizations. The agency also continues to integrate reporting across COVID-19, influenza, and RSV to better communicate overall respiratory disease activity.
Vaccination and antivirals: the core message
The CDC message is consistent: vaccination reduces the risk of flu and serious complications, and it is still beneficial to get vaccinated even later in the season. For people who do become sick, prescription antivirals can reduce severity when started as early as possible and are especially important for patients at higher risk of complications.
Clinicians also emphasize common-sense steps that protect families and communities during high flu activity: staying home when ill, improving ventilation in shared indoor spaces, and seeking medical guidance quickly when high-risk patients develop symptoms—particularly young children, older adults, pregnant people, and those with chronic health conditions.