Health authorities warn western US may see early flu season
- An early start to the flu season means it might be time to consider a flu shot sooner than later, according to reporting from NPR, while health authorities...
- Although the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that national seasonal flu activity remains low and wastewater surveillance shows very low to low activity across most states,...
- Allison Edwards, medical director at Sesame, stated in The Healthy reporting that the rate of flu diagnoses among the platform's patient visits increased 128% from August to September.
An early start to the flu season means it might be time to consider a flu shot sooner than later, according to reporting from NPR, while health authorities warn the 2026-27 flu season may be off to an early start in western regions of the United States. Seasonal influenza activity remains low nationwide as of late September, but patient positivity rates for respiratory infections have begun ticking upward.
Early Flu Rise in Western States and Patient Diagnosis Spikes
Although the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that national seasonal flu activity remains low and wastewater surveillance shows very low to low activity across most states, regional numbers are shifting. NPR reported that flu activity began picking up as early as September in Western states including California, Washington, Hawaii, and Alaska, deviating from the typical pattern where influenza starts in the South and expands outward. Dr. Alex Greninger, a virologist heading infectious disease diagnostics at the University of Washington, stated in NPR’s reporting that doctors are seeing as much flu currently as they usually would around Christmas.
Allison Edwards, medical director at Sesame, stated in The Healthy reporting that the rate of flu diagnoses among the platform’s patient visits increased 128% from August to September. Deborah Plate, a family medicine physician at Cleveland Clinic, told The Healthy that cooling temperatures and indoor gatherings as people head into fall are contributing factors, though she noted the surge appears both sooner and more aggressive than typical seasonal patterns.
Mutated Variants and the 2025-2026 Flu Season Context
Experts point to potential viral changes behind the unusual timing. Virologists cited by NPR indicate that a new variant has evolved a mutation appearing to make it better at evading existing immunity, particularly among teenagers. This genetic shift may explain why activity is rising earlier than normal. In comparison, the CDC classified the previous 2025-2026 flu season as moderately severe, resulting in over 32 million cases, 390,000 hospitalizations, and up to 81,000 deaths. Health authorities attributed that severity partly to low vaccination rates and a poor match between circulating strains and last season’s vaccine.
A lineage previously included – B/Yamagata – has been omitted from vaccines because it has not been detected globally since March 2020, as reported by Bluewin. Swiss public health guidelines also emphasize that protection takes roughly two weeks to develop after injection.
Available Vaccine Options and Recommendations for High-Risk Groups
Health organizations including the CDC, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the American Academy of Family Physicians, and the Infectious Diseases Society of America recommend annual flu vaccination for most adults and children aged six months and older. A range of formulations is available for the current season:
- Standard injections and enhanced vaccines for adults aged 65 and older, including higher-dose and adjuvanted options designed to trigger stronger immune responses.
- FluMist, a nasal spray approved for individuals aged 2 through 49.
- Flucelvax, a cell-cultured vaccine produced using mammalian cells rather than eggs, approved for people aged 6 months and older, though individuals with egg allergies can safely receive any authorized flu vaccine.
Vaccination is emphasized for vulnerable populations, including older adults, young children, pregnant individuals, people with chronic medical conditions, and those with weakened immune systems. Updated COVID-19 vaccines are also available and can be administered during the same clinical visit as the flu shot.
National Vaccination Windows and Guidance Timelines
Public health authorities continue to promote timely immunization to ensure protective antibodies develop before widespread community transmission occurs. In international reporting, Bluewin noted that the Federal Office of Public Health recommends getting vaccinated from mid-October onward, with National Vaccination Weeks scheduled in participating clinics and pharmacies from November 2 through 7 and November 23 through 28, 2026. Meanwhile, the CDC released interim guidelines while working on communication strategies regarding respiratory virus season, as reported by NPR.