CDC Updates Flu Surveillance on November 13: At Least 2.6 Million Illnesses, 36,000 Hospitalizations and 2,100 Deaths This Season, With Influenza-Like Illness at 3.2 Percent of Outpatient Visits, Above the 2.9 Percent Baseline
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in its weekly FluView update on November 13, 2026, that the proportion of outpatient visits for influenza-like illness is 3.2 percent, above the 2.9 percent national baseline, indicating the beginning of flu season in earnest. The CDC said early-season influenza activity is higher than typically observed at this time of year, but that an earlier increase does not necessarily lead to a higher seasonal peak or greater overall severity.
The CDC estimates that there have been at least 2.6 million flu illnesses, 36,000 hospital admissions and 2,100 deaths so far this season, with 9,584 people hospitalized for flu in total. The agency noted two child deaths from flu this week, for a total of five so far this season.
Flu test positivity was 11.3 percent this week, up from 9.1 percent the week before, primarily from influenza A. Flu activity is in the high or very high category in California, Louisiana, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Washington state, and moderate in Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York state and Puerto Rico, while infections are minimal or low in most of the country.
The preliminary estimate of season severity is low across all ages, and no novel influenza virus has been confirmed in people. The CDC said it expects the 2026-2027 respiratory illness season to be much like last season, and that it is too early to know what viruses may predominate or whether there might be implications for flu vaccine effectiveness.
In its respiratory illness update the same day, the CDC said overall acute respiratory illness activity is low but rising, with elevated rhinovirus and enterovirus and respiratory adenovirus levels across the country. Wastewater levels of COVID-19 are moderate in most of the country, while flu is low and respiratory syncytial virus is very low.
Source: CDC
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：电子显微镜下的流感病毒颗粒。作者与授权：Cynthia Goldsmith 摄、美国疾控中心（CDC）提供，公共领域，维基共享资源。 / Photo: Influenza virus particles under an electron microscope. Credit: Cynthia Goldsmith / CDC, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
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