Is Flu Going Around in Washington Right Now?
Last updated:
of outpatient visits for flu-like illness
Week ending Oct 10, 2026
Yes, flu is still going around in Washington, but the latest CDC ILINet signal is low: 1.8% of outpatient visits were for flu-like illness for the week ending Oct 10, 2026. Trend unavailable. A trend needs three valid consecutive weekly reports through the latest reading.
A trend needs three valid consecutive weekly reports through the latest reading.
Season context: 1.8% is the highest flu-like-illness share in Washington's current season so far.
If this statewide CDC number does not match what people around you are feeling,read why flu surveillance and local experience can differ.
Key Takeaways
- 1Flu activity in Washington is currently LOW, with 1.8% of outpatient visits for flu-like illness.
- 2Washington flu activity is near the national average of 2.1%.
Practical Steps for This Signal
Flu activity is low — good time to prepare
- •Stay up to date with seasonal flu vaccination based on current CDC guidance
- •Keep everyday prevention habits in place: wash hands, cover coughs, and improve indoor air when practical
- •If you are sick, stay home until symptoms are improving overall and you have been fever-free without medication for at least 24 hours; then use added precautions for 5 days
CDC prevention guidance · When to stay home and return to activities
These general steps pair Local Health Signal's interpretation of the reported public-health signal with CDC prevention guidance. They are not a personal risk assessment or medical advice. Talk to your healthcare provider about what's right for you and your family.
Source and context
How this page is built
Source
Updated
Oct 17, 2026
Coverage
Statewide outpatient surveillance through CDC ILINet
Best For
Tracking whether flu-like illness is rising, falling, or unusually high
ILI is a surveillance signal, not a lab-confirmed flu count. Use this page to understand trend direction and relative intensity in Washington, not to diagnose an individual illness.
Washington Flu Trend — 2026-2027 Season
ILI = influenza-like illness. Percentage of outpatient visits for ILI symptoms.
Is Flu Getting Better or Worse in Washington?
Flu is holding steady in Washington
The CDC Rt estimate did not show a clear increase or decrease as of the source date. That does not mean the current activity level is low.
Technical details (CDC Rt estimate)
Reproduction number (Rt): 1.00 (95% CI: 0.92 – 1.07)
Probability of growth: 50%
Rt below 1.0 means each case leads to fewer new cases (declining). Above 1.0 means growing.
Based on the CDC Rt estimate as of October 13, 2026.Source
Washington vs. National Average and Nearby States
Nearby States
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. Activity levels are computed from ILI percentage thresholds.Learn more about our methods.
More Health Data for Washington
Best Next Clicks for Washington
Useful next questions
Questions worth opening from the Washington flu page
Use these pages when you need a local flu answer, a state-by-state comparison, or a page to share.
Flu Ranking Question
Which States Have the Worst Flu Right Now?
A quick ranking of the hottest current flu states, plus direct links into the state pages that matter most this week.
Local Flu Question
Is Flu Bad Near Me Right Now?
A local flu routing page for “near me” searches, with a built-in flu finder and direct links into the strongest state flu pages.
Sharing Question
What Page Should I Send Someone Who Asks What’s Going Around?
A practical page for sharing the right Local Health Signal link the first time.
Cities in Washington
Health snapshots available for these Washington cities:
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the flu going around in Washington right now?
Based on the latest CDC data, flu activity in Washington is currently low. 1.8% of outpatient visits are for flu-like illness. This data is updated weekly from the CDC's ILINet surveillance network.
What are current flu levels in Washington?
Washington's current influenza-like illness (ILI) rate is 1.8%, classified as low activity. ILI measures the percentage of outpatient visits where patients present with fever plus cough or sore throat — the standard CDC metric for participating jurisdictions.
How does Washington flu activity compare to the national average?
Washington's flu activity is within 0.3 percentage points of the national average. The nearby states table shows how Washington ranks regionally.
What does the flu activity level mean for Washington?
The activity level indicates how much flu-like illness is being reported in Washington compared to typical levels. "High" means more people are visiting doctors with flu symptoms than usual. It does not indicate the severity of the flu viruses circulating.
Where does this flu data come from?
This data comes from the CDC's ILINet (Influenza-like Illness Surveillance Network), accessed via the Delphi Epidata API. ILINet includes reports from thousands of healthcare providers in participating states who track the percentage of patient visits for flu-like symptoms each week.
How often is this page updated?
This page is updated weekly, typically on Fridays after the CDC publishes new FluView data. The data usually reflects activity from the previous week, so there is a one-to-two week delay between when illness occurs and when it appears here.
Is flu getting better or worse in Washington?
Based on the CDC's reproduction number (Rt) estimate, flu in Washington is not changing with an Rt of 1.00. This means each flu case may be generating more than one new case, so activity could increase. There is a 50% probability that flu is growing.
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.