AP Special Report Spotlight PUBLIC HEALTH | Q&A Flu is rising rapidly, driven by a new variant. Here's what to know LAURAN NEERGAARD Associated Press Jan 4, 2026 Jan 4, 2026 Updated Jan 16, 2026 0 Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Flu is rising rapidly across the U.S., driven by a new variant of the virus — and cases were expected to keep growing with holiday travel.kAm%92E G2C:2?E[ <?@H? 2D QDF34=256 z[Q =65 E@ 62C=J @FE3C62<D :? E96 &?:E65 z:?85@>[ y2A2? 2?5 r2?252] x? E96 &]$][ 7=F EJA:42==J 368:?D :ED H:?E6C >2C49 :? s646>36C] yFDE 367@C6 }6H *62CVD[ E96 r6?E6CD 7@C s:D62D6 r@?EC@= 2?5 !C6G6?E:@? C6A@CE65 9:89 @C G6CJ 9:89 =6G6=D @7 :==?6DD :? >@C6 E92? 92=7 E96 DE2E6D]k^AmkAm%96 rsr 6DE:>2E65 E96C6 H6C6 2E =62DE f]d >:==:@? :==?6DD6D[ g`[___ 9@DA:E2=:K2E:@?D 2?5 b[`__ 562E9D 7C@> 7=F D@ 72C E9:D D62D@?] %92E :?4=F56D 2E =62DE 6:89E 49:=5 562E9D — 2?5 :D 32D65 @? 52E2 2D @7 s64] a_[ 367@C6 >2;@C 9@=:52J 82E96C:?8D]k^Am People are also reading… Proposal to let nonresidents vote in Omaha, Lincoln elections advances in auditor oversight bill ICE detains Kearney entrepreneur with deep Nebraska ties How to watch the Nebraska football spring game: Time, TV channel Nebraska spring football game live updates, score and highlights Where to watch the Nebraska football spring game: Time, TV channel Nebraska-Iowa basketball live updates, stats and highlights Suspect in triple killing may have participated in assault of sex offender, police say How to watch Nebraska-Iowa basketball: Time, TV channel for Thursday Nebraska softball triumphs over No. 7 UCLA in 4-1 victory State Patrol IDs mother found dead in Kearney County; 3 children injured in shooting 64-year-old man arrested in Lincoln for 1990 'Lovers' Lane Murders' in Texas Lincoln man accused of hitting officer with drumsticks in chaotic arrest Lincoln City Council weighs winery rule changes, approves addition at The Mill Malmo Fire Department prepares to host 27th annual breakfast Nebraska's Emmett Johnson receives national praise before NFL draft Pharmacy manager Aylen Amestoy administers a seasonal flu vaccine to a patient Sept. 9 at a CVS Pharmacy in Miami. Rebecca Blackwell, Associated Press kAm$@>6 DE2E6D 2C6 A2CE:4F=2C=J 92C5\9:E] }6H *@C<VD 962=E9 56A2CE>6?E D2:5 E96 f`[___ 7=F 42D6D :? E96 H66< 6?5:?8 s64] a_ >2C<65 E96 >@DE 42D6D @7 E96 5:D62D6 E96 DE2E6 C64@C565 :? 2 D:?8=6 H66< D:?46 a__c]k^AmkAmxEVD 72C E@@ D@@? E@ <?@H :7 E9:D 7=F D62D@? H:== 36 2D D6G6C6 2D =2DE H:?E6CVD]k^AmkAmw@H6G6C[ :EVD ?@E E@@ =2E6 E@ 86E 2 7=F D9@E[ H9:49 962=E9 6IA6CED D2J 42? DE:== AC6G6?E D6G6C6 :==?6DD 6G6? :7 D@>6@?6 86ED :?764E65] (9:=6 E9:D J62CVD G244:?6 :D?VE 2 A6C764E >2E49 E@ E96 DF34=256 z DEC2:?[ 2 AC6=:>:?2CJ 2?2=JD:D 7C@> E96 &]z] 7@F?5 :E @776C65 2E =62DE A2CE:2= AC@E64E:@?[ =@H6C:?8 A6@A=6VD C:D< @7 9@DA:E2=:K2E:@?]k^Am kAmp44@C5:?8 E@ E96 rsr[ @?=J 23@FE caT @7 25F=ED 2?5 49:=5C6? 8@E 2 7=F G244:?2E:@? D@ 72C E9:D J62C]k^Amk9am(92E :D DF34=256 znk^9amkAm%96 7=F G:CFD :D 2 D92A6\D9:7E6C[ 4@?DE2?E=J >FE2E:?8[ 2?5 :E 4@>6D :? >F=E:A=6 7@C>D] %96C6 2C6 EH@ DF3EJA6D @7 %JA6 p 7=F[ 2?5 DF34=256 z :D 2 >FE2E65 G6CD:@? @7 @?6 @7 E96>[ ?2>65 wb}a] %92E wb}a DEC2:? :D 2=H2JD 92CD9[ 6DA64:2==J 7@C @=56C 25F=ED]k^AmkAm$F34=256 zVD >FE2E:@?D 2C6?VE 6?@F89 @7 2 492?86 E@ 36 4@?D:56C65 2? 6?E:C6=J ?6H <:?5 @7 7=F]k^Am kAmqFE E96JVC6 5:776C6?E 6?@F89 E@ 6G256 D@>6 @7 E96 AC@E64E:@? 7C@> E9:D J62CVD G244:?6[ D2:5 p?5C6H !6<@DK[ 2 G:CFD 6IA6CE 2E y@9?D w@A<:?D q=@@>36C8 $49@@= @7 !F3=:4 w62=E9]k^Am k9am(:== :E >2<6 A6@A=6 D:4<6Cnk^9amkAm%96 rsr D2:5 :EVD E@@ D@@? E@ <?@H 9@H D6G6C6 E9:D D62D@? H:== 36]k^AmkAmu=F D62D@?D 5@>:?2E65 3J 2?J G6CD:@? @7 wb}a E6?5 E@ 36 325[ H:E9 >@C6 :?764E:@?D @G6C2== 2?5 >@C6 A6@A=6 364@>:?8 D6C:@FD=J :==] $E:==[ !6<@DK 42FE:@?65 :E H:== E2<6 E:>6 E@ E62D6 2A2CE H96E96C E9:D DF34=256 z G6CD:@? D:>A=J DAC625D >@C6 62D:=J @C 2=D@ :D >@C6 52?86C@FD]k^Am kAm%92E BF6DE:@? 2D:56[ E96 rsr ?@E6D E96C6 2C6 D@>6 AC6D4C:AE:@? >65:4:?6D E@ EC62E 7=F[ H9:49 2C6 FDF2==J C64@>>6?565 7@C A6@A=6 2E 9:89 C:D< @7 4@>A=:42E:@?D] w@H6G6C[ A2E:6?ED 86?6C2==J ?665 E@ DE2CE DF49 >65:42E:@?D 2 52J @C EH@ 27E6C DJ>AE@>D 368:?]k^Am Government & Politics In a tumultuous year, US health policy has been dramatically reshaped under RFK Jr. ALI SWENSON Associated Press k9am(9@ ?665D 2 G244:?6nk^9amkAm%96 rsr 2?5 >2;@C >65:42= D@4:6E:6D 2== C64@>>6?5 2 7=F G244:?6 7@C ;FDE 23@FE 6G6CJ@?6 286 e >@?E9D 2?5 @=56C] s6DA:E6 =@ED @7 C646?E >:D:?7@C>2E:@? 2?5 4@?7FD:@? 23@FE G244:?6D[ E96 7=F C64@>>6?52E:@?D 92G6?VE 492?865]k^Am kAmu=F :D A2CE:4F=2C=J 52?86C@FD 7@C A6@A=6 ed 2?5 @=56C[ AC68?2?E H@>6?[ J@F?8 49:=5C6? 2?5 A6@A=6 @7 2?J 286 H9@ 92G6 49C@?:4 962=E9 AC@3=6>D[ :?4=F5:?8 2DE9>2[ 5:236E6D[ 962CE 5:D62D6 2?5 H62< :>>F?6 DJDE6>D]k^AmkAm%96 G244:?6D 2C6 3C6H65 E@ AC@E64E 282:?DE E9C66 :?7=F6?K2 DEC2:?D] s6DA:E6 4@?46C? @G6C E92E ?6H wb}a G2C:2?E[ E96J 2AA62C E@ 36 2 8@@5 >2E49 282:?DE w`}` 2?5 %JA6 q 7=F E92E 2=D@ >2J 4:C4F=2E6 E9:D J62C[ !6<@DK D2:5]k^Am kAm%96C6 2C6 D9@ED 7@C 2== 286D[ 2D H6== 2D E96 ?2D2= DAC2J u=F|:DE 7@C 286D a E@ ch] u@C E96 7:CDE E:>6 E9:D J62C[ D@>6 A6@A=6 >2J 36 6=:8:3=6 E@ G244:?2E6 E96>D6=G6D H:E9 u=F|:DE 2E 9@>6]k^Am Wellness Trying to improve your health and wellness in 2026? Keep it simple DEVI SHASTRI Associated Press Wellness Health subsidies expire, leaving millions of Americans facing steep insurance hikes ALI SWENSON Associated Press Wellness 6 foods that zap your energy Seraphina Seow RealSimple.com 0 Comments Build your health & fitness knowledge Sign up here to get the latest health & fitness updates in your inbox every week! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story For better oral health, start with these 5 steps for daily dental care One of the best things you can do for your overall health as you age is a daily routine you've followed since childhood. What to know about new vaccine guidance and why doctors are worried The changes come as U.S. vaccination rates have been slipping and the share of children with exemptions has reached an all-time high, accordin… How to keep children safe from accidental medicine poisoning About 50,000 children under 5 go to ERs each year after swallowing medicine unintentionally. At-home STD tests offer new options for screening and treatment New options for testing and treating some of the most common sexually transmitted diseases are becoming available, a trend that experts hope w… CDC studies show value of nationwide wastewater disease surveillance The Trump administration plans to slash funding for the surveillance system from about $125 million a year to about $25 million.
Government & Politics In a tumultuous year, US health policy has been dramatically reshaped under RFK Jr. ALI SWENSON Associated Press
Wellness Trying to improve your health and wellness in 2026? Keep it simple DEVI SHASTRI Associated Press
Wellness Health subsidies expire, leaving millions of Americans facing steep insurance hikes ALI SWENSON Associated Press
For better oral health, start with these 5 steps for daily dental care One of the best things you can do for your overall health as you age is a daily routine you've followed since childhood.
What to know about new vaccine guidance and why doctors are worried The changes come as U.S. vaccination rates have been slipping and the share of children with exemptions has reached an all-time high, accordin…
How to keep children safe from accidental medicine poisoning About 50,000 children under 5 go to ERs each year after swallowing medicine unintentionally.
At-home STD tests offer new options for screening and treatment New options for testing and treating some of the most common sexually transmitted diseases are becoming available, a trend that experts hope w…
CDC studies show value of nationwide wastewater disease surveillance The Trump administration plans to slash funding for the surveillance system from about $125 million a year to about $25 million.
