Flu in Louisiana: Spring 2026 Activity Update

Is the Flu Still Going Around in Louisiana?

As spring 2026 begins, flu activity in Louisiana remains a concern for residents across the state. While the national flu season is declining, some Southern states — including Louisiana — continue to see elevated outpatient visits for flu-like illness.

Check the latest numbers on our Louisiana flu dashboard, updated every Friday with CDC ILINet data.

What the Data Shows

Louisiana’s flu activity is tracked through the CDC’s ILINet surveillance network, which monitors the percentage of outpatient visits for influenza-like illness (ILI). The data includes reports from healthcare providers across the state who track patients presenting with fever plus cough or sore throat.

Key things to watch:

• Current activity level — see the Louisiana flu page for this week’s reading
• Trend direction — is flu going up or down in Louisiana?
• How Louisiana compares to the national average and nearby states

Louisiana vs. Nearby Southern States

Flu patterns in the South can differ from the national picture. Here’s how Louisiana’s neighbors are doing:

• Texas flu activity — Western neighbor, largest Southern state
• Mississippi flu activity — Eastern neighbor
• Arkansas flu activity — Northern neighbor
• Alabama flu activity — Also seeing elevated impressions in search
• Florida flu activity — Gulf Coast comparison

What Else Is Going Around in Louisiana?

Flu isn’t the only thing circulating. Check these other health metrics for Louisiana:

• Louisiana COVID-19 activity — Emergency department visits
• Louisiana RSV activity — Hospital admissions
• Louisiana measles cases — 2026 case tracking
• Louisiana MMR vaccination rate — Kindergarten coverage
• What’s going around in Louisiana? — Full state health overview

When Does Flu Season End in Louisiana?

Flu season in the US typically runs from October through May, with peak activity between December and February. Louisiana often sees activity extend later into spring compared to northern states due to travel patterns and mild winters that don’t force people indoors as consistently.

The CDC updates flu data weekly, and we publish our analysis every Friday. Bookmark the Louisiana flu page or our blog for the latest.

About This Data

Louisiana flu data comes from the CDC’s ILINet (Influenza-like Illness Surveillance Network), accessed via the Delphi Epidata API. ILINet tracks the percentage of outpatient visits for flu-like symptoms. See our methods page for full details on how we process and display this data.

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Updated weekly. Last update: April 3, 2026.