Flu Activity Across the United States
Last updated:
This is the fastest national answer to “is flu going around right now?” Start with the U.S. pattern, check which states are hottest, then open your state page for the weekly trend and nearby comparisons. We use CDC ILINet because it is still one of the clearest broad signals for flu-like illness, but we also call out reporting gaps where the feed is thin.
National flu activity is low this week. Nationally, 1.7% of outpatient visits were for flu-like illness.
→ Stable — relatively steady across the latest three weekly reports
Source and context
How to read this flu tracker
Source
Updated
2026-10-03
Coverage
All 50 states + DC, with some reporting gaps
Best For
Fast statewide flu orientation and weekly trend checks
Use this hub to see where flu pressure is highest, then open a state page for more specific local detail. If a state does not report well to ILINet, we would rather say that clearly than imply false precision.
Highest Flu Pressure Right Now
Best starting points for state-by-state detail
New Jersey
State flu page
3.4% of outpatient visits were for flu-like illness in the latest weekly report.
Florida
State flu page
2.7% of outpatient visits were for flu-like illness in the latest weekly report.
California
State flu page
2.6% of outpatient visits were for flu-like illness in the latest weekly report.
Louisiana
State flu page
2.6% of outpatient visits were for flu-like illness in the latest weekly report.
Wyoming
State flu page
2.6% of outpatient visits were for flu-like illness in the latest weekly report.
South Carolina
State flu page
2.3% of outpatient visits were for flu-like illness in the latest weekly report.
Activity by State
All States
National Flu Trend — 2025-2026 Season
Flu Season Insights
National Flu Rt Direction Estimate
Rt (reproduction number) measures how many people each infected person spreads to. Rt < 1 = declining, Rt > 1 = growing. CDC Rt estimates as of Sep 29, 2026. Source.
Sources & Methods
ILI (influenza-like illness) is defined as fever plus cough or sore throat. Data reflects the percentage of outpatient visits for ILI reported through the CDC's ILINet surveillance network.Learn more about our methods.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is ILI and how is it tracked?
ILI stands for influenza-like illness: fever plus cough or sore throat. Participating healthcare providers report the percentage of visits with these symptoms through CDC ILINet each week.
Why do different sources show different flu levels?
Different surveillance systems measure different things. ILINet tracks outpatient visits, emergency-department surveillance tracks emergency visits, and wastewater surveillance measures viral concentrations in sewage.
How often is this data updated?
Flu data is updated weekly, usually on Fridays after the CDC publishes new FluView surveillance data. There is typically a short lag between when illness happens and when it shows up here.
What is the reproduction number (Rt) and what does it tell us?
Rt is the time-varying reproduction number: an estimate of how many people each infected person spreads the virus to on average. Values above 1.0 suggest growth, while values below 1.0 suggest decline. CDC estimates Rt by state, and Local Health Signal shows fresh estimates on state pages.
Is flu getting better or worse right now?
Fresh CDC Rt estimates currently show 1 states declining, 1 stable, and 48 growing, with a national state median of 1.13. Check a state page for its specific estimate.
Local Health Signal is not affiliated with the CDC or any government agency. Data is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended for clinical decision making. See our methods page for details on data sources and limitations.