CDC says flu activity remains elevated but stabilizing, with children seeing the highest hospitalization peak since 2010-11

U.S. influenza activity stayed elevated into early January but showed signs of stabilizing, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s weekly surveillance update for Week 1, ending Jan. 10, 2026.

In its FluView report, the CDC said influenza activity has decreased or remained stable for two consecutive weeks, though it warned that the winter season often brings a second period of increased influenza activity after the holidays and said it will continue monitoring for that pattern.

H3N2 leads this season

The CDC reported that influenza A(H3N2) viruses are the most frequently identified flu viruses so far this season. Among 547 A(H3N2) samples collected since Sept. 28, 2025 that underwent additional genetic characterization at CDC, 90.9% belonged to a specific subclade, reflecting how one lineage has been especially prominent.

Such dominance matters because the mix of circulating strains can influence severity patterns across age groups, determine where outbreaks cluster, and shape how clinicians and health systems plan capacity for respiratory season.

Hospitalizations and a stark pediatric signal

One of the most concerning data points in the Week 1 update was the level of hospital strain. The weekly influenza-associated hospitalization rate overall in FluSurv-NET peaked during Week 52 at 12.6 per 100,000 population, which the CDC described as the second-highest peak weekly rate overall since the 2010-11 season.

Children under 18 posted the highest peak weekly hospitalization rate observed since the 2010-11 season, a reminder that flu severity is not limited to older adults and that pediatric care systems can face substantial pressure during intense waves.

Pediatric deaths reported

The report also noted an increase in reported influenza-associated pediatric deaths: 15 additional pediatric deaths were reported to the CDC that week, bringing the season total to 32 reported pediatric deaths as of the update.

What the CDC is watching next

With activity still elevated, the CDC said it will keep tracking whether a post-holiday surge emerges. Public health officials use these reports to anticipate where clinical demand may rise and to guide messaging on prevention steps, including vaccination and timely treatment for high-risk patients.

The Week 1 snapshot suggests the season may be easing in some areas, but the agency’s emphasis on continued vigilance reflects how quickly respiratory dynamics can change when schools, workplaces and travel patterns shift.