CDC's FluView shows eight more pediatric deaths as flu activity drops

The most recent FluView report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows an additional eight pediatric deaths last week, raising the season's total to 60 pediatric deaths from flu complications. Approximately 90% of the 60 children were not fully vaccinated against influenza.

The CDC estimates there have been at least 22,000,000 illnesses, 280,000 hospitalizations, and 12,000 deaths from flu so far this season.

There was a downward trend in provider visits for influenza-like illness (ILI), to 4.4% above the national baseline. Overall, the positivity rate for influenza detections in clinical labs remained steady at 18.0%, and the cumulative hospitalization rate is 63.2 per 100,000 population.

"Seasonal influenza activity remains elevated nationally. Most areas of the country are reporting stable or decreasing trends in activity; however, activity continues to increase in HHS Region 10 (Pacific Northwest)," the CDC said.

Increasing influenza B activity

As has been typical in other flu seasons, influenza A activity is decreasing while influenza B is increasing. For week 4 of 2026 surveillance data, influenza A was detected in 76.9% of samples, while influenza B was detected in 23.1% of samples.

For the total 2025–26 flu season, 92% of flu specimens have been typed as influenza A. Among 822 influenza A(H3N2) viruses collected since September 28, 2025, that underwent additional genetic characterization at the CDC, 91.5% belonged to subclade K, a variant that has mutated to evade immunity from the current flu vaccine strain.

Provided by University of Minnesota