March 17, 2026- As of March 13, 2026, the amount of acute respiratory illness causing people to seek health care is low, while seasonal influenza activity remains elevated nationally. Influenza A activity is decreasing in most areas of the country while trends in influenza B activity vary by region, per the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Respiratory Illnesses Data Channel.
The new strain that dominated the early winter was not well matched to the vaccine, leading to an intense early onslaught of flu, according to AP News. This season’s vaccines were around 25% to 30% effective in preventing adults from getting sick enough from the flu that they had to go to a doctor’s office, clinic or hospital, according to a CDC report this week.