Woman Getting Vaccine — Photo by CDC on Unsplash

Alabama’s flu rate has climbed every week since the start of November, hitting 9.52% of all emergency department visits in the final week of December.

That number has more than tripled in the last two weeks, putting our state in the “Very High Activity Level” for influenza. Alabama is one of 20 states considered to be at the highest level, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Alabama was considered in the very high category for just one week last flu season. The flu rate spiked at 7.9% in the state last year.

According to the Alabama Department of Public Health, this week’s flu rate is the highest record rate since November 2022.

Tips to stay healthy during flu season

As the holidays are behind us and people return to school + work, now is the time to take extra steps to protect you and your loved ones from the flu.

Both the CDC and ADPH have long lists of the best things to practice to avoid catching any viruses including:

Avoid close contact with sick people
Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth
Cover your coughs and sneezes
Routinely clean frequently used surfaces and objects like countertops and door knobs
Stay home if you are sick

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