# How bad is flu season this year? *The agency estimates at least 1,700,000 illnesses, 25,000 hospitalizations and 1,400 deaths from flu so far in the 2026-2027 season.* - Type: Explainer - Section: Health - By: Health Desk - Published: 2026-11-12T00:23:44-05:00 - Updated: 2026-11-12T00:23:44-05:00 - URL: https://factsdesk.com/health/how-bad-is-flu-season-this-year/ Topics: [CDC](https://factsdesk.com/topic/cdc/) ## Key facts - CDC classifies the severity of the 2026-2027 flu season so far as low across all ages, as of its report for the week ending October 31, 2026. Source: [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention](https://www.cdc.gov/fluview/surveillance/2026-week-43.html). Confirmed 2026-11-12T00:23:44-05:00. Cite: https://factsdesk.com/health/how-bad-is-flu-season-this-year/#cdc-classifies-the-severity-of-the-2026-2027-flu-season-so - CDC estimates at least 1,700,000 illnesses, 25,000 hospitalizations and 1,400 deaths from flu so far this season. Source: [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention](https://www.cdc.gov/fluview/surveillance/2026-week-43.html). Confirmed 2026-11-12T00:23:44-05:00. Cite: https://factsdesk.com/health/how-bad-is-flu-season-this-year/#cdc-estimates-at-least-1-700-000-illnesses-25-000 - Hospitals reported 8,396 laboratory-confirmed flu hospitalizations in the week ending October 31, 2026, a rate of 2.5 per 100,000 people. Source: [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention](https://www.cdc.gov/fluview/surveillance/2026-week-43.html). Confirmed 2026-11-12T00:23:44-05:00. Cite: https://factsdesk.com/health/how-bad-is-flu-season-this-year/#hospitals-reported-8-396-laboratory-confirmed-flu - In that week, 2.8% of outpatient visits reported to CDC were for influenza-like illness, below the national baseline of 2.9%. Source: [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention](https://www.cdc.gov/fluview/surveillance/2026-week-43.html). Confirmed 2026-11-12T00:23:44-05:00. Cite: https://factsdesk.com/health/how-bad-is-flu-season-this-year/#in-that-week-2-8-of-outpatient-visits-reported-to-cdc-were - CDC updates its national flu report once a week, on Fridays after 11 a.m. Source: [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention](https://www.cdc.gov/fluview/overview/index.html). Confirmed 2026-11-12T00:23:44-05:00. Cite: https://factsdesk.com/health/how-bad-is-flu-season-this-year/#cdc-updates-its-national-flu-report-once-a-week-on-fridays The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention classifies the severity of the 2026-2027 flu season so far as low across all ages, according to its [weekly report](https://www.cdc.gov/fluview/surveillance/2026-week-43.html) for the week ending Saturday, October 31, 2026. The same report says flu activity is higher than is typically observed this early in the season, and that an earlier rise does not necessarily lead to a higher peak or a more severe season overall. ## The season so far in numbers The agency [estimates](https://www.cdc.gov/fluview/surveillance/2026-week-43.html) that the season has brought at least 1,700,000 illnesses, 25,000 hospitalizations and 1,400 deaths so far. The figures below come from the same report, which the agency published on Friday, November 6, 2026, and which covers Week 43 of the year. | Measure | Latest figure | Period | | --- | --- | --- | | Severity classification | Low, all ages | Season so far | | Estimated illnesses | At least 1,700,000 | Season so far | | Estimated hospitalizations | At least 25,000 | Season so far | | Estimated deaths | At least 1,400 | Season so far | | Hospitalizations reported by hospitals | 8,396 | Week ending Oct. 31 | | Hospital admission rate | 2.5 per 100,000 | Week ending Oct. 31 | | Clinical lab tests positive for flu | 9.1% | Week ending Oct. 31 | | Outpatient visits for flu-like illness | 2.8% | Week ending Oct. 31 | | Deaths due to flu | 0.3% of all deaths | Week ending Oct. 31 | | Deaths of children reported | 3 | Season so far | The [report](https://www.cdc.gov/fluview/surveillance/2026-week-43.html) says the hospital admission rate of 2.5 per 100,000 people rose from the week before. Clinical laboratories found flu in 4,696 of the 51,351 specimens they tested that week, which is 9.1%. ## What the measures mean The outpatient figure counts visits for influenza-like illness, which the agency [defines](https://www.cdc.gov/fluview/overview/index.html) as a fever of 100 degrees Fahrenheit or higher with a cough, a sore throat or both. Because that definition rests on symptoms and not on a test, it can include illnesses other than flu. The 2.8% reported for the week was below the national baseline of 2.9%. The illness, hospitalization and death totals are estimates and not counts, and the agency states each one as "at least" a given number. The [report](https://www.cdc.gov/fluview/surveillance/2026-week-43.html) also says, "All data are preliminary and may change as more reports are received." ## Which virus is spreading Influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 viruses were the ones public health laboratories reported most often, according to the [report](https://www.cdc.gov/fluview/surveillance/2026-week-43.html). Of the 388 influenza A viruses those laboratories subtyped in the week, 379, or 97.7%, were A(H1N1)pdm09. ## Deaths of children Three deaths of children from flu in the 2026-2027 season have been reported to the agency, according to the [report](https://www.cdc.gov/fluview/surveillance/2026-week-43.html). The report puts the total for the previous season, 2025-2026, at 202. ## When the numbers change The agency [updates](https://www.cdc.gov/fluview/overview/index.html) its national flu report once a week, on Fridays after 11 a.m. A flu season is counted from Week 40 of one year through Week 39 of the next. The newest report is linked from the agency's [FluView page](https://www.cdc.gov/fluview/), and this page is updated at the same address after each release. For the level of respiratory illness in one state, see [Is flu and respiratory illness high in my state?](/health/is-flu-and-respiratory-illness-high-in-my-state/) ## What this page is not This page reports public health data and is not medical advice. National figures do not say whether any one person is ill or what that person should do, and questions about symptoms belong with a doctor or a local health department. ## Sources 1. [Weekly US Influenza Surveillance Report: Key Updates for Week 43, ending October 31, 2026](https://www.cdc.gov/fluview/surveillance/2026-week-43.html), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2026-11-06 (primary source) 2. [U.S. Influenza Surveillance: Purpose and Methods](https://www.cdc.gov/fluview/overview/index.html), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2025-12-02 (primary source) 3. [FluView](https://www.cdc.gov/fluview/), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2026-11-12 (primary source)