Early flu activity is emerging on the US West Coast as the CDC continues to add deaths from the previous season, prompting renewed calls for timely vaccination.
The US is entering a new flu season with the previous one still being counted. The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention says 198 children died from influenza in the 2025-26 season, and three of those deaths were logged in the latest weekly report even though the illnesses occurred months earlier. The figures can still rise because paediatric flu deaths are reported late and the CDC continues to receive updates after the season ends.
According to the agency’s FluView report for the week ending 3 October, the earliest signs of the 2026-27 season are showing up first on the West Coast. CDC Region 9, which includes California, Arizona, Nevada and Hawaii, had the highest share of positive flu tests, while Region 10, covering Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Alaska, recorded the highest flu-related hospital admission rate. Nationally, though, the agency said activity remained low and still within expected seasonal variation for this time of year.
The new data also underline how heavily flu can hit children and older adults. Hospital admissions were highest among people aged 65 and over, but admissions among children under five also increased from the previous week. Outpatient flu-like illness rose among children, teenagers and young adults up to age 24, a pattern that matters for households where infants, grandparents and other vulnerable relatives live under one roof.
Vaccination remains the most practical protection. The CDC recommends a flu shot for everyone aged six months and older, preferably by the end of October, and says protection takes about two weeks to build. This year’s vaccine has been updated, including a change aimed at H3N2, the strain that circulated widely last season. Health experts quoted by KQED said an early start does not necessarily mean a severe season, but they urged families to use the coming weeks to get protected before flu circulation broadens further.
For parents and carers, the warning signs are familiar but important: fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, chills and fatigue that come on quickly. The CDC says people at higher risk, including young children, older adults, pregnant people and anyone with chronic illness, should seek medical advice early because antiviral medicines work best soon after symptoms begin. Emergency care is needed for breathing problems, chest pain, blue lips, dehydration, confusion or a child who is difficult to wake.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
