We Are At the Beginning of the Flu Season Peak Months
The 2025 flu season in Alabama started out strong, then moderated some. However, recent weeks have seen a significant increase in hospital emergency department visits by patients with respiratory illness. And with more holiday get togethers between now and the end of the year still on calendars, health officials are urging Alabama residents to get vaccinated, it is not too late.
Complicating this flu season is the decreased number of people seeking the flu vaccines based on various anti-vax theories. As of this month, an estimated 2.2 million fewer flu vaccine doses were administered in retail pharmacies and nearly 1 million fewer doses in physicians' offices compared to the same time in the 2024-2025 season.
The majority of flu illnesses this season are linked to the Influenza A virus, specifically a new variant known as subclade K. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports two influenza-associated pediatric deaths from the A virus this past week, bringing the 2025-2026 season total to three reported flu-related pediatric deaths in the U.S.
According to the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH), "Influenza A symptoms hit suddenly and intensely, including high fever, chills, cough, sore throat, runny/stuffy nose, headaches, and body aches, along with significant fatigue, often with stomach issues like vomiting/diarrhea (especially in kids). Unlike a cold, flu symptoms come on fast, feel much worse, and the cough/tiredness can linger for weeks, though the fever usually resolves in days, with severe cases potentially leading to breathing problems or pneumonia."
The CDC reports Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina are experiencing "High" rates of flu with Alabama and Tennessee recording "Moderate" rates, Mississippi with: "Minimal" rates and Arkansas and Florida seeing "Low" rates.
ADPH cautions that we are just now reaching the peak months of the flu season, December thru February. Alabama and the remainder of the southern states are likely to see significant increases in flu cases over the next two plus months.
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