Doctors Warn 3-Virus Winter Season May Peak in January as Flu Cases Start Rising
Updated
Updated · HuffPost · Sep 17
Doctors Warn 3-Virus Winter Season May Peak in January as Flu Cases Start Rising
3 articles · Updated · HuffPost · Sep 17
Summary
U.S. doctors expect a difficult fall-winter respiratory season, with flu already ticking up and COVID-19 and RSV likely to build toward winter peaks around January.
Flu season typically runs from September or October into March or April, and experts said more indoor gatherings and poorer ventilation in colder months help all three viruses spread.
Southern Hemisphere data offered slight reassurance: its 2026 flu season was fairly typical and lighter than 2025-26, though doctors said that does not remove the need for vaccination.
Vaccination rates remain below the 70% public-health goal, with child flu uptake down since the pandemic, even as vaccines for flu, COVID-19 and RSV can reduce hospitalization and death.
RSV activity is currently low nationwide, while doctors also urged testing respiratory symptoms for flu and COVID so eligible patients can get antivirals, alongside masking, hand hygiene and avoiding crowded indoor spaces.