This Flu Season Is Breaking Records: Here’s Why Acting Early Matters

The flu is back, and this year it’s hitting harder than usual. With record-breaking illness levels, rising hospitalizations, and growing pressure on healthcare systems, many are wondering what they can do to stay safe. 

Below, we unpack the latest numbers and share physician-backed guidance on preventing infection and caring for yourself or a loved one if symptoms begin.

A Record-Breaking Flu Season Is Hitting the U.S.

Across the U.S., respiratory illness is surging at levels not typically seen this early in the season. For the week ending Dec. 27, 45 states reported “high” or “very high” outpatient respiratory illness activity. About 8.2% of all outpatient visits were for respiratory symptoms — nearly triple the usual baseline of 3.1% and higher than any year at this point since the CDC began tracking the data in 1997.

Emergency departments are seeing similar spikes. 8.3% of ER visits that week ended with a flu diagnosis, nearly matching last season’s peak and already exceeding the previous two seasons. Hospitalizations are also rising just as quickly. More than 33,000 people were admitted for influenza in a single week, up from 19,000 the week before.

So far this season, the CDC estimates at least 11 million illnesses, 120,000 hospitalizations, and 5,000 deaths, including nine pediatric deaths.

Some states are experiencing especially intense pressure. In New York, health officials reported 4,546 flu hospitalizations in one week, the highest ever recorded there, prompting multiple hospitals to reinstate mask requirements for staff and visitors. Major health systems in the Northeast have taken similar precautions.

Behind the surge is a strain of Influenza A (H3N2) that became dominant after this year’s vaccines were finalized. While vaccines still reduce severe illness and complications, the mismatch may be contributing to higher transmission.

Vaccination rates remain modest. About 42% of both children and adults have received a flu shot so far this season. That is similar to recent years but well below coverage seen earlier in the past decade.

What people should know right now

Public health experts say the season is still unfolding, with elevated activity expected to continue for several more weeks. The flu is not just a bad cold — it can lead to pneumonia, worsen chronic conditions like asthma or heart disease, and overwhelm hospitals during peak periods.

Antiviral medications can shorten illness and reduce complications if started within 48 hours of symptoms, and vaccination, even late in the season, still provides meaningful protection against severe outcomes.

Just as importantly, individual behavior matters. Masking in healthcare settings, staying home when sick, and taking early symptoms seriously can help protect older adults, young children, and people with weakened immune systems.

How to protect yourself and others, according to The Moxie Health Group founder Dr. Gustavo Ferrer

Dr. Gustavo Ferrer, pulmonologist and founder and CEO of The Moxie Health Group, says preventing infection and acting early when symptoms appear can make a significant difference. Not only for individual recovery, but also for slowing community spread during a high-intensity season like this one.

🤒 When symptoms first appear

At the earliest signs of flu-like illness, Dr. Ferrer recommends supporting the immune system and reducing viral load. Vitamin C and vitamin D can help support immune function, while gentle nasal hygiene using low-pressure saline rinses may help clear virus particles from the nasal passages. For people at higher risk or with more severe symptoms, he advises contacting a healthcare provider promptly to discuss antiviral medications, which are most effective when started within the first two days.

He also emphasizes masking while symptomatic, especially around older adults, infants, or anyone with chronic medical conditions. 

“Wearing a mask when you’re sick isn’t just about you,” he notes. “It’s about protecting the people whose bodies may not be able to fight the virus as easily.”

🧼 Hand hygiene and everyday prevention

One of the simplest and most effective protections remains frequent handwashing. Washing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds removes viruses picked up from surfaces or close contact. When soap and water are not available, an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol can help reduce transmission risk.

🤧 Respiratory etiquette

Covering coughs and sneezes helps stop virus-laden droplets from spreading through the air or landing on nearby surfaces. Using a tissue or the inside of your elbow, followed by immediate handwashing, reduces the chance of unknowingly passing the virus to others.

🦠 Avoid touching your face

The eyes, nose, and mouth are direct entry points for respiratory viruses. Dr. Ferrer advises being mindful of touching the face, particularly in public places or after handling shared objects like door handles, phones, or shopping carts.

📱 Keeping surfaces clean

Flu viruses can survive for hours on hard surfaces. Regularly disinfecting frequently touched items — such as phones, keyboards, light switches, and countertops — can reduce household spread, especially when someone at home is ill.

🏠 Knowing when to stay home

Returning to work or school too soon increases the chance of infecting others. Dr. Ferrer recommends staying home until at least 24 hours after fever has resolved without medication. 

📉 Reducing exposure during peak season

Avoiding close contact with people who are visibly sick and limiting time in crowded indoor spaces can lower the chance of infection, particularly during weeks when community transmission is high.

💪 Strengthening the immune system

Daily habits matter. Getting enough sleep, eating balanced meals, staying physically active, and managing stress all help the body mount a stronger immune response when exposed to viruses.

🌬️ Improving indoor air quality

Ventilation plays a larger role than many people realize. Opening windows when possible or using air purifiers indoors can dilute viral particles in enclosed spaces, lowering the risk of inhalation.

This flu season is a reminder that respiratory viruses are not just a winter inconvenience, but a serious public health challenge that can strain hospitals and upend families in a matter of weeks. With case counts already breaking records and more weeks of high activity expected, the choices you make now can meaningfully shape how the rest of the season unfolds.

Dr. Ferrer emphasizes that prevention and preparedness are forms of community care. Through informed action, early treatment, and simple protective habits, individuals can reduce their own risk while helping to ease the burden on healthcare systems nationwide.