AP Special Report Spotlight PUBLIC HEALTH | Q&A Flu is rising rapidly, driven by a new variant. Here's what to know LAURAN NEERGAARD Associated Press Jan 4, 2026 Jan 4, 2026 Updated Mar 19, 2026 0 Pharmacy manager Aylen Amestoy administers a seasonal flu vaccine to a patient Sept. 9 at a CVS Pharmacy in Miami. Rebecca Blackwell, Associated Press Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save LAURAN NEERGAARD Associated Press Flu is rising rapidly across the U.S., driven by a new variant of the virus — and cases were expected to keep growing with holiday travel.kAm%92E G2C:2?E[ <?@H? 2D QDF34=256 z[Q =65 E@ 62C=J @FE3C62<D :? E96 &?:E65 z:?85@>[ y2A2? 2?5 r2?252] x? E96 &]$][ 7=F EJA:42==J 368:?D :ED H:?E6C >2C49 :? s646>36C] yFDE 367@C6 }6H *62CVD[ E96 r6?E6CD 7@C s:D62D6 r@?EC@= 2?5 !C6G6?E:@? C6A@CE65 9:89 @C G6CJ 9:89 =6G6=D @7 :==?6DD :? >@C6 E92? 92=7 E96 DE2E6D]k^AmkAm%96 rsr 6DE:>2E65 E96C6 H6C6 2E =62DE f]d >:==:@? :==?6DD6D[ g`[___ 9@DA:E2=:K2E:@?D 2?5 b[`__ 562E9D 7C@> 7=F D@ 72C E9:D D62D@?] %92E :?4=F56D 2E =62DE 6:89E 49:=5 562E9D — 2?5 :D 32D65 @? 52E2 2D @7 s64] a_[ 367@C6 >2;@C 9@=:52J 82E96C:?8D]k^Am People are also reading… Marion man charged after 200 grams of cocaine found in search of home near school Marion man charged with assaulting woman and sheriff's lieutenant Owner of Old Fort's Stuckey’s, Dairy Queen hopes to reopen as soon as possible after fire Marion man arrested, charged in Friday shooting in McDowell County that injured one Man found dead along Interstate 40 in Burke County; Medical examiner notified McDowell County Schools superintendent: Planning for a new school McDowell County high schoolers show off art, music, more at Spring Art Show Los Compadres owners bringing street food, festive vibe to new restaurant in downtown Newton Man "involved in a shooting" Friday evening found, McDowell sheriff's office says Spring Craft Crawl coming up in downtown Marion. Here's where and when. Former reality TV star Jessie Holmes repeats as champion of the grueling Iditarod sled dog race Lenoir woman accused of scratching Telsa Cybertruck using board with nails; see video here Railroad conference in Morganton focuses on passenger trains, rebuilding from Helene NC Gov. Stein kicks off rural listening tour in McDowell County, visits Marion business McDowell County leaders hear updates, concerns about 2027 property value reappraisal kAm$@>6 DE2E6D 2C6 A2CE:4F=2C=J 92C5\9:E] }6H *@C<VD 962=E9 56A2CE>6?E D2:5 E96 f`[___ 7=F 42D6D :? E96 H66< 6?5:?8 s64] a_ >2C<65 E96 >@DE 42D6D @7 E96 5:D62D6 E96 DE2E6 C64@C565 :? 2 D:?8=6 H66< D:?46 a__c]k^AmkAmxEVD 72C E@@ D@@? E@ <?@H :7 E9:D 7=F D62D@? H:== 36 2D D6G6C6 2D =2DE H:?E6CVD]k^AmkAmw@H6G6C[ :EVD ?@E E@@ =2E6 E@ 86E 2 7=F D9@E[ H9:49 962=E9 6IA6CED D2J 42? DE:== AC6G6?E D6G6C6 :==?6DD 6G6? :7 D@>6@?6 86ED :?764E65] (9:=6 E9:D J62CVD G244:?6 :D?VE 2 A6C764E >2E49 E@ E96 DF34=256 z DEC2:?[ 2 AC6=:>:?2CJ 2?2=JD:D 7C@> E96 &]z] 7@F?5 :E @776C65 2E =62DE A2CE:2= AC@E64E:@?[ =@H6C:?8 A6@A=6VD C:D< @7 9@DA:E2=:K2E:@?]k^Am kAmp44@C5:?8 E@ E96 rsr[ @?=J 23@FE caT @7 25F=ED 2?5 49:=5C6? 8@E 2 7=F G244:?2E:@? D@ 72C E9:D J62C]k^Amk9am(92E :D DF34=256 znk^9amkAm%96 7=F G:CFD :D 2 D92A6\D9:7E6C[ 4@?DE2?E=J >FE2E:?8[ 2?5 :E 4@>6D :? >F=E:A=6 7@C>D] %96C6 2C6 EH@ DF3EJA6D @7 %JA6 p 7=F[ 2?5 DF34=256 z :D 2 >FE2E65 G6CD:@? @7 @?6 @7 E96>[ ?2>65 wb}a] %92E wb}a DEC2:? :D 2=H2JD 92CD9[ 6DA64:2==J 7@C @=56C 25F=ED]k^AmkAm$F34=256 zVD >FE2E:@?D 2C6?VE 6?@F89 @7 2 492?86 E@ 36 4@?D:56C65 2? 6?E:C6=J ?6H <:?5 @7 7=F]k^Am kAmqFE E96JVC6 5:776C6?E 6?@F89 E@ 6G256 D@>6 @7 E96 AC@E64E:@? 7C@> E9:D J62CVD G244:?6[ D2:5 p?5C6H !6<@DK[ 2 G:CFD 6IA6CE 2E y@9?D w@A<:?D q=@@>36C8 $49@@= @7 !F3=:4 w62=E9]k^Am Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | RSS Feed | SoundStack | All Of Our Podcasts k9am(:== :E >2<6 A6@A=6 D:4<6Cnk^9amkAm%96 rsr D2:5 :EVD E@@ D@@? E@ <?@H 9@H D6G6C6 E9:D D62D@? H:== 36]k^AmkAmu=F D62D@?D 5@>:?2E65 3J 2?J G6CD:@? @7 wb}a E6?5 E@ 36 325[ H:E9 >@C6 :?764E:@?D @G6C2== 2?5 >@C6 A6@A=6 364@>:?8 D6C:@FD=J :==] $E:==[ !6<@DK 42FE:@?65 :E H:== E2<6 E:>6 E@ E62D6 2A2CE H96E96C E9:D DF34=256 z G6CD:@? D:>A=J DAC625D >@C6 62D:=J @C 2=D@ :D >@C6 52?86C@FD]k^Am kAm%92E BF6DE:@? 2D:56[ E96 rsr ?@E6D E96C6 2C6 D@>6 AC6D4C:AE:@? >65:4:?6D E@ EC62E 7=F[ H9:49 2C6 FDF2==J C64@>>6?565 7@C A6@A=6 2E 9:89 C:D< @7 4@>A=:42E:@?D] w@H6G6C[ A2E:6?ED 86?6C2==J ?665 E@ DE2CE DF49 >65:42E:@?D 2 52J @C EH@ 27E6C DJ>AE@>D 368:?]k^Am k9am(9@ ?665D 2 G244:?6nk^9amkAm%96 rsr 2?5 >2;@C >65:42= D@4:6E:6D 2== C64@>>6?5 2 7=F G244:?6 7@C ;FDE 23@FE 6G6CJ@?6 286 e >@?E9D 2?5 @=56C] s6DA:E6 =@ED @7 C646?E >:D:?7@C>2E:@? 2?5 4@?7FD:@? 23@FE G244:?6D[ E96 7=F C64@>>6?52E:@?D 92G6?VE 492?865]k^Am kAmu=F :D A2CE:4F=2C=J 52?86C@FD 7@C A6@A=6 ed 2?5 @=56C[ AC68?2?E H@>6?[ J@F?8 49:=5C6? 2?5 A6@A=6 @7 2?J 286 H9@ 92G6 49C@?:4 962=E9 AC@3=6>D[ :?4=F5:?8 2DE9>2[ 5:236E6D[ 962CE 5:D62D6 2?5 H62< :>>F?6 DJDE6>D]k^AmkAm%96 G244:?6D 2C6 3C6H65 E@ AC@E64E 282:?DE E9C66 :?7=F6?K2 DEC2:?D] s6DA:E6 4@?46C? @G6C E92E ?6H wb}a G2C:2?E[ E96J 2AA62C E@ 36 2 8@@5 >2E49 282:?DE w`}` 2?5 %JA6 q 7=F E92E 2=D@ >2J 4:C4F=2E6 E9:D J62C[ !6<@DK D2:5]k^Am kAm%96C6 2C6 D9@ED 7@C 2== 286D[ 2D H6== 2D E96 ?2D2= DAC2J u=F|:DE 7@C 286D a E@ ch] u@C E96 7:CDE E:>6 E9:D J62C[ D@>6 A6@A=6 >2J 36 6=:8:3=6 E@ G244:?2E6 E96>D6=G6D H:E9 u=F|:DE 2E 9@>6]k^Am 0 Comments Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Build your health & fitness knowledge Sign up here to get the latest health & fitness updates in your inbox every week! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story For better oral health, start with these 5 steps for daily dental care One of the best things you can do for your overall health as you age is a daily routine you've followed since childhood. What to know about new vaccine guidance and why doctors are worried The changes come as U.S. vaccination rates have been slipping and the share of children with exemptions has reached an all-time high, accordin… How to keep children safe from accidental medicine poisoning About 50,000 children under 5 go to ERs each year after swallowing medicine unintentionally. At-home STD tests offer new options for screening and treatment New options for testing and treating some of the most common sexually transmitted diseases are becoming available, a trend that experts hope w… CDC studies show value of nationwide wastewater disease surveillance The Trump administration plans to slash funding for the surveillance system from about $125 million a year to about $25 million. Tested Positive for Flu During the Holidays? What to Do Next Flu activity is on the rise during the holiday season, with thousands hospitalized and multiple child deaths reported, making the virus a real… Health subsidies expire, leaving millions of Americans facing steep insurance hikes A House vote expected this month could offer another chance to extend the subsidies, but success is far from guaranteed. Trying to improve your health and wellness in 2026? Keep it simple As 2026 arrives, here's what you can skip, what you should pay attention to and how to get credible health and wellness information. 6 foods that zap your energy Energy slumps during the day can tell you many things. Here are six foods that can affect your energy levels. In a tumultuous year, US health policy has been dramatically reshaped under RFK Jr. Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s first year leading HHS brought sweeping changes — and deep concern from public health experts.
For better oral health, start with these 5 steps for daily dental care One of the best things you can do for your overall health as you age is a daily routine you've followed since childhood.
What to know about new vaccine guidance and why doctors are worried The changes come as U.S. vaccination rates have been slipping and the share of children with exemptions has reached an all-time high, accordin…
How to keep children safe from accidental medicine poisoning About 50,000 children under 5 go to ERs each year after swallowing medicine unintentionally.
At-home STD tests offer new options for screening and treatment New options for testing and treating some of the most common sexually transmitted diseases are becoming available, a trend that experts hope w…
CDC studies show value of nationwide wastewater disease surveillance The Trump administration plans to slash funding for the surveillance system from about $125 million a year to about $25 million.
Tested Positive for Flu During the Holidays? What to Do Next Flu activity is on the rise during the holiday season, with thousands hospitalized and multiple child deaths reported, making the virus a real…
Health subsidies expire, leaving millions of Americans facing steep insurance hikes A House vote expected this month could offer another chance to extend the subsidies, but success is far from guaranteed.
Trying to improve your health and wellness in 2026? Keep it simple As 2026 arrives, here's what you can skip, what you should pay attention to and how to get credible health and wellness information.
6 foods that zap your energy Energy slumps during the day can tell you many things. Here are six foods that can affect your energy levels.
In a tumultuous year, US health policy has been dramatically reshaped under RFK Jr. Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s first year leading HHS brought sweeping changes — and deep concern from public health experts.
