7.2%
9
Since not all influenza cases are tested or result in seeking medical attention, the CDC does not have an exact case count at any given time. Instead, clinical tests and data from doctor’s visits and hospital stays show whether flu activity is increasing and how severe it is.
Tracking the share of doctor’s visits for flu-like symptoms (fever plus a cough or sore throat) helps show how widespread the flu is, including mild cases that do not lead to hospitalization. During the week ending January 3, 2026, 7.2% of visits were related to flu-like symptons. That's 1.0 percentage points lower than the previous week.
Most recently, 7.2% of doctor’s visits in the US were related to flu-like symptoms.
Weekly share of outpatient visits made due to respiratory illness that includes fever plus a cough or sore throat
How many people are being hospitalized for the flu right now?
During the week ending January 3, 2026, flu patients occupied 3.7% of inpatient hospital beds, up from 2.5% the previous week.
The CDC tracks case severity by looking at the number of hospital beds occupied by influenza patients, a metric tracked since the COVID-19 pandemic. That share has been rising since the week ending October 18, 2025, when 0.1% of hospital beds were occupied by flu patients.
Most recently, influenza patients occupied 3.7% of US hospital beds.
Weekly share of inpatient beds occupied by influenza patients
How widespread is respiratory illness activity (including the flu) among states?
During the week of January 3, 2026, 24 states had at least high levels of acute respiratory illness, according to the CDC. The CDC rated 9 states as “very high.”
The CDC uses an acute respiratory illness metric to group emergency department visits into five levels. This shows how active respiratory illnesses, from the common cold to influenza, are in an area.
Most recently, 24 states had high levels of acute respiratory illnesses, including the flu.
Level of acute respiratory illness activity by state (week ending January 3, 2026)
Keep exploring
Methodology
USAFacts standardizes data, in areas such as time and demographics, to make it easier to understand and compare.
Page sources
USAFacts endeavors to share the most up-to-date information available. We sourced the data on this page directly from government agencies; however, the intervals at which agencies publish updated data vary.
