Here's How Bad the Flu Is in Your State

Though it feels like everyone and their grandmother has been coming down with the flu since Halloween, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or the CDC, didn't actually declare it flu season until the week ending on December 15. For months, influenza activity across the United States was minimal, but the CDC's most recent report shows that 11 states are now experiencing either moderate or high levels of flu activity, and 25 of 54 jurisdictions are reporting either regional or widespread flu activity.

This year, the most prevalent strain so far is H1N1, the subtype of Influenza A that's frequently referred to as swine flu, though H3N2 has also been spotted in southeastern states like Alabama and Mississippi. Flu cases typically peak between December and February, although it's impossible to make an accurate prediction this early in the season.

Though the flu traditionally has the greatest impact on the elderly community, this season's outbreak is targeting a much younger demographic: children. Per the CDC, seven children have already died this year at the hands of influenza, and "most flu activity has been driven by illness in school-aged children."

While no state is entirely safe from flu season, some regions and areas are much better off than others. Read on to find out how severe the flu is in your state, and make sure you educate yourself on these 20 Habits That Slash Your Flu Risk.

In the week ending on December 15, a surprising number of states experienced minimal flu activity, especially in the Northwest. These states were Washington, Oregon, Nevada, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, Wyoming, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia, New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Delaware, Maryland, Tennessee, Florida, Alaska, Hawaii, and the District of Columbia.

Based on the CDC's most recent findings, Puerto Rico and 11 states—Texas, New Mexico, New York, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Mississippi, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Oklahoma, California, and Utah—are currently experiencing low influenza-related activity.

Though the state of New York is only experiencing low flu activity, New York City is another story. Per the CDC's data, the city is one of the areas dealing with moderate flu activity, along with Virginia, Kentucky, Arizona, New Jersey, Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana, South Carolina, and Alabama.

For now, only two states are suffering from high flu activity. These states are Colorado and Georgia—and if you live in either of them, you should make sure you're aware of the 25 Habits That Increase Your Flu Risk.

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