What are flu rates in your state? Cases surge in 45 states, breaking records

NBC News•January 5, 2026•general

Key Points:

Doctors’ visits for flu-like symptoms have reached the highest level in nearly 30 years, with nearly 1 in 10 outpatient visits nationwide due to flu-like illnesses as of late December, according to the CDC.
The flu season has caused over 11 million illnesses, 120,000 hospitalizations, and at least 5,000 deaths, including nine children, with 45 states experiencing high to very high flu activity.
Hospitals are seeing increased admissions and severe symptoms, often complicated by co-infections with viruses like COVID-19 and RSV, leading to more patients requiring supplemental oxygen.
The 2025-26 flu season follows the deadliest pediatric flu season on record, with 289 child deaths last season, surpassing