Flu Season Hits Nation As New Year Begins
Gulf Shores News Staff • January 1, 2026
A strong flu is rapidly spreading across the nation
Coastal Alabama Doctors have seen the number of patients rise in recent weeks as a strong flu strain spreads into the area. Across the nation the contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses have hit some state health department hard. Louisiana is experiencing the outbreak right before the start of Mardi Gras season.
Doctors warn the particularly nasty, mutated version of influenza — the so-called “super flu” — is already circulating in many corners of the country. Signs include fever, cough, sore throat, congestion, body aches, headaches and fatigue, according to the CDC.
Health professionals remind us to seek medical help for severe symptoms like difficulty breathing, persistent high fever, or if you're in a high-risk group (young children, older adults, pregnant people, or those with chronic conditions). Treated early the recovery time can be shortened.
Basic prevention includes frequent handwashing and avoiding touching your face. You mat also want to consider a flu vaccine.
Flu-related deaths are often a result of complications like pneumonia, which makes direct tracking difficult and necessitates the use of modeling for accurate estimates. Some estimates place the annual flu death toll at over 20 thousand.
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