Is Flu Still Going Around? State-by-State Flu Activity for March 2026

Where Is Flu Still Active in March 2026?

The 2025–2026 flu season is showing classic late-March patterns: a patchwork of still-elevated activity in some states and rapid decline in others. The national average is 3.3% ILI (influenza-like illness — the percentage of outpatient doctor visits for flu symptoms), which sits in the moderate range.

But the national average masks a wide range of state experiences. Here’s a complete look at where flu stands across all 50 states and D.C. as of this week.

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States With HIGH Flu Activity (Above 4% ILI)

Eight states are currently reporting HIGH flu activity, meaning more than 4% of outpatient doctor visits are for flu-like illness. These states are above the national average and still in active flu season:

State	ILI %	Status
New Mexico	5.9%	HIGH
Idaho	5.2%	HIGH
Colorado	5.0%	HIGH
Ohio	4.7%	HIGH
Missouri	4.4%	HIGH
Tennessee	4.4%	HIGH
New Jersey	4.3%	HIGH
South Carolina	4.2%	HIGH

If you’re in one of these states, flu is still circulating actively. Masking in crowded indoor spaces and washing hands frequently can reduce transmission risk.

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States With MODERATE Flu Activity (2–4% ILI)

The majority of states — 29 — currently sit in the moderate range. Flu is present but declining in most of these states:

California (4.0%) · Georgia (3.9%) · Nebraska (3.6%) · Virginia (3.6%) · Florida (3.5%) · Kansas (3.5%) · Michigan (3.4%) · Indiana (3.3%) · Iowa (3.3%) · Arizona (3.2%) · Arkansas (3.2%) · Louisiana (3.2%) · West Virginia (3.2%) · Washington D.C. (3.1%) · Alabama (2.9%) · Nevada (2.9%) · Massachusetts (2.8%) · Minnesota (2.8%) · Texas (2.8%) · New Hampshire (2.7%) · Kentucky (2.6%) · Wyoming (2.6%) · Washington (2.5%) · Rhode Island (2.3%) · North Dakota (2.2%) · North Carolina (2.1%) · Pennsylvania (2.1%) · Maryland (2.0%) · Mississippi (2.0%)

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States Where Flu Has Largely Faded (LOW Activity)

Fourteen states are now reporting LOW flu activity — below 2% ILI. Several have effectively ended their flu season early:

Illinois (1.9%) · Wisconsin (1.8%) · Vermont (1.6%) · Montana (1.5%) · Delaware (1.3%) · Maine (2.0%)

States reporting essentially zero flu activity this week: Alaska · Connecticut · Hawaii · New York · Oklahoma · South Dakota · Utah

Note: Oregon is not included in the low-activity count because Oregon does not currently report to the CDC’s ILINet network.

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When Does Flu Season End?

Flu season in the US typically peaks between December and February, then declines through March and April. By May, activity in most states falls to baseline levels — but “flu season ending” doesn’t mean flu disappears. Year-round sporadic cases continue, especially in states with mild climates.

The late-March period is when the season looks most fragmented: some states still in high activity while others have already returned to baseline. This year, the Mountain West (New Mexico, Idaho, Colorado) is running hotter than average for this point in the season.

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How Is This Data Tracked?

Local Health Signal pulls flu data weekly from the CDC FluView program via the Delphi Epidata API. The ILI percentage measures what fraction of outpatient visits to participating healthcare providers were for influenza-like illness — fever plus cough or sore throat.

All 50 states and D.C. have dedicated flu tracking pages updated each week:

• Browse all states on our flu activity map and hub
• See the national flu trend and current season overview
• Check how your state’s MMR vaccination rate affects outbreak risk at the MMR coverage tracker

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What Should You Do If Flu Is Active in Your State?

• Get vaccinated if you haven’t already. Even late-season flu shots reduce severity and risk of hospitalization.
• Stay home if sick. Most people are contagious for about a day before symptoms start and up to 5–7 days after.
• Antiviral medications (like Tamiflu/oseltamivir) work best if taken within 48 hours of symptom onset — contact your doctor promptly if you’re in a high-risk group.

This article is updated weekly as new data becomes available. Current ILI data is from CDC FluView for the week ending March 22, 2026.