United States flu activity rises earlier than typical seasonal patterns

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that flu season is arriving earlier than usual across the United States. While national seasonal flu activity remains low, indicators have been rising since late August, with hospital admissions and positive test rates showing a steady climb.

In the week ending October 24, hospitals reported 6,100 laboratory-confirmed flu admissions, a 27% increase from the previous week. The CDC noted that the estimated hospitalization rate for mid-October has reached its highest level since 2010. Clinical laboratories reported a positivity rate of 7.6%, up from 5.7% the prior week.

Geographically, the West Coast initially saw the highest activity, but the virus has since spread more widely. High activity levels have been noted in several metro areas, with rising admission rates in New England, the Southeast, and the Pacific Northwest. States such as Louisiana and Hawaii were among the first to report moderate levels of infection.