Flu season takes place during the colder months for a reason. Plus, when it's summer in North America, it's winter in the Southern Hemisphere. The Weekly U.S.

CDC twenty four seven. CDC collects, compiles, and analyzes information on influenza activity year-round in the United States and produces FluView, a weekly surveillance report, and FluView Interactive, which allows for more in-depth exploration of influenza surveillance data. You don’t have to get very close to catch the flu, either.
If you get the flu, you will be contagious for 5 to 7 days after your symptoms begin. And that's where the virus's gel-like coating helps when it's cold outside. However, it’s common to see the season start as early as October. since. There is a theory that the influenza virus may survive better in colder, drier climates. The flu tends to spike in the fall and winter for a major reason: the temperature. In the United States, flu season occurs in the fall and winter. Let’s explore them. For comparison, this isn't as easy to do when it's warm outside because the lipid coating degrades, exposing the virus to the environment where it can easily get destroyed before finding a host. For more information about CDC’s influenza surveillance activities, see the Overview of Influenza Surveillance in the United States. hbspt.cta.load(3854287, '619da9ec-7939-4251-8c4d-04827bf61ed2', {}); Think about all the time you spend indoors. That's because with fewer infections during the previous year, more people are susceptible the following year. Click the link below and become a weather expert today! Myth: Cold weather causes you to catch the flu. You’re inside a lot during the winter, right? In the winter, however, it’s a lot less humid than the dog days of summer. The data are then downloaded, compiled, and analyzed at CDC.

While seasonal influenza (flu) viruses are detected year-round in the United States, flu viruses are most common during the fall and winter. Linking to a non-federal website does not constitute an endorsement by CDC or any of its employees of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the website. The flu really does thrive in winter There's no doubt that the flu virus somehow thrives in the cold. exclamation square light iconWhat to Know This Flu Season. The exact timing and duration of flu seasons can vary, but influenza activity often begins to increase in October. "The virus survives better in cool, dry temperatures," Simanek said. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cannot attest to the accuracy of a non-federal website. Why is there a week-long lag between the data and when it’s reported? But the following year, the 2012-13 flu season was "moderately severe," according to the CDC. Saving Lives, Protecting People, Overview of Influenza Surveillance in the United States, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD), Reconstruction of the 1918 Influenza Pandemic Virus, Preliminary In-Season 2019-2020 Burden Estimates, Who is at High Risk for Flu Complications, Who Should & Who Should NOT Get Vaccinated, Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine (LAIV)/Nasal Spray Vaccine, Selecting Viruses for the Seasonal Influenza Vaccine, Flu Vaccine and People with Egg Allergies, Frequently Asked Questions on Vaccine Supply, Historical Reference of Vaccine Doses Distributed, Hospitalized Adult Influenza Vaccine Effectiveness Network (HAIVEN), How Vaccine Effectiveness and Efficacy are Measured, What People with a Staph Infection Should Know about Flu, Resources for Hosting a Vaccination Clinic, Influenza Hospitalization Surveillance Network (FluSurv-NET), Weekly U.S. Visit Insider's homepage for more stories, How to prevent the flu, according to doctors, Yes, the flu is contagious. Why flu season is in the fall and winter The flu tends to spike in the fall and winter for a major reason: the temperature. Typically, the flu doesn’t get into full swing until December. Experts aren't yet entirely sure.

All influenza activity reporting by states, laboratories, and health care providers is voluntary. Another reason commonly cited to contribute to cold and flu infections in the fall and winter months is that we spend more time indoors once the weather is less hospitable.
CDC is not responsible for Section 508 compliance (accessibility) on other federal or private website. You can choose from hurricanes, tornadoes, thunderstorms, and even weather technology, like lightning detection. However, that also keeps the virus inside as well. Most of the time flu activity peaks between December and February, although activity can last as late as May. You might not feel great after running around in the middle of winter with no jacket on, but it’s not an activity that causes you to get ill with influenza. When is the flu season in the United States? In addition to flu viruses, several other respiratory viruses also circulate during the flu season and can cause symptoms and illness similar to those seen with flu infection. When this happens, any viruses or germs surviving in those droplets also fall to the ground. Both nutrients are key players in our immune systems.

Here's when you're most likely to spread the virus, You can't get the flu from the flu shot, but there are side effects, How long the flu should last and when you should see a doctor, The flu vaccine is not 100% effective but you should still get it every year. While influenza viruses circulate year-round, most of the time flu activity peaks between December and February, but activity can last as late as May. ANSWER Many things play a role in making the flu more common in the winter: The virus lives longer indoors in winter, because the air is less humid than outside. Germantown, MD 20876, Hurricane Sally Makes Landfall at Peak of Tropical Storm Season, Winter Arrives in Rockies with Early-Season Snow, Major Hurricane Laura Strengthens to Category 4, How to Learn About Weather Online (For Free! Flu season dates vary per year. Subscribe to our daily newsletter to get more of it.