Doctors across South Florida are seeing more patients with coughs, fevers, and other flu-like symptoms as influenza spreads rapidly across the country this winter.
During the week of Christmas, most U.S. states reported “high” or “very high” levels of influenza-like illness, with federal data showing a record number of outpatient visits for flu-like symptoms since at least the 1997–98 flu season.
Several factors are driving the surge.
Lower vaccination rates. Heavy holiday travel. And the spread of subclade K, a strain of influenza that appears better at evading existing immune protection.
“All of those things make a somewhat perfect storm so that we have more cases and more hospitalizations related to influenza this year than previously,” said Dr. Geeta Sood, an infectious disease expert and assistant professor at Johns Hopkins University.
Flu is not the only illness circulating. COVID-19 and RSV cases are also beginning to rise.
“This is something we deal with every year,” said Dr. Mary Jo Trepka, an infectious disease epidemiologist at Florida International University.
“There are things that people can do to protect themselves and help protect others,” she said, noting that vaccination, masking if desired, staying home when sick, and taking flu medications can all help reduce symptoms and spread.
How much flu, COVID, and RSV is there in Florida?
Florida is among the states reporting “very high” levels of influenza-like illness, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This means large numbers of people are experiencing symptoms such as cough, fever, and sore throat, which are common with the flu, COVID-19, the common cold, and other respiratory illnesses.
Federal data shows “moderate” levels of flu and RSV activity in Florida’s wastewater, with “very low” levels of COVID-19. Wastewater monitoring helps experts understand which viruses are circulating in communities.
Some people are at higher risk of severe illness, including young children, older adults, and individuals with underlying health conditions.
CDC data shows Florida emergency rooms are seeing “very high” levels of flu-related visits. RSV-related ER visits remain “high” but appear to be declining. COVID-19 levels are still considered “very low,” though they are beginning to increase.
Will flu cases rise further in Miami and South Florida?
Baptist Health South Florida, the region’s largest health system, has reported more patients seeking care for flu-like symptoms compared to previous years, according to Dr. Ernesto Sanz, a medical director of Baptist Health urgent care centers. Broward Health also reported more flu-like illness over the final two months of 2025 compared to the year before.
Most flu patients have been able to recover at home, Sanz said. The majority have tested positive for influenza A, consistent with national trends. Unlike past seasons, fewer patients are testing positive for COVID.
There may be some short-term relief in Miami-Dade County. Emergency room visits for influenza-like illness have recently begun to decline, and Baptist Health has also seen a slight drop in flu-related urgent care visits.
Still, doctors say it is too early to know whether that trend will continue. Illnesses often spread more easily after the holidays, when people return to school and work following travel and gatherings.
Flu season typically lasts through May, so coughing and congestion are likely to remain common for months.
U.S. flu, COVID, and RSV update
The CDC has described the 2025–2026 flu season as “moderately severe.” So far, there have been more than 11 million flu cases nationwide, along with 120,000 hospitalizations and 5,000 flu-related deaths. Nine of those deaths involved children.
Many cases this season are linked to a mutated influenza A strain known as H3N2 subclade K. The same strain has also driven severe flu seasons in several other countries.
“Seasonal influenza activity is elevated and continues to increase across the country,” the CDC said in its latest update. “RSV activity is elevated in many areas, with emergency department visits and hospitalizations increasing among children ages 0 to 4. COVID-19 activity remains low but is rising nationally.”
Does the flu vaccine work against subclade K? Is it too late to get one?
Influenza viruses mutate constantly, and the subclade K strain became widespread after scientists selected strains for this year’s flu vaccine.
Even so, experts say the current flu vaccine is still expected to offer some protection against subclade K.
Public health officials also say it is not too late to get vaccinated.
The CDC has traditionally recommended flu vaccines for everyone six months and older, though guidance changed this week. Federal health officials announced they are reducing the number of recommended childhood vaccines, and the CDC now says flu vaccines should be given to children only if a doctor recommends them.
Most insurance plans, including Medicare and Medicaid, cover flu shots at no cost through in-network providers. People without insurance can often receive free or low-cost vaccines through local health departments and community health centers.
It typically takes about two weeks after vaccination for the body to build antibody protection against the flu virus.
Leave a Reply