ATLANTA — Georgia is seeing a sharp surge in flu activity as 2026 begins, prompting health officials to strongly recommend vaccination as cases, hospitalizations, and deaths continue to climb.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is projecting a severe flu season nationwide, and Georgia is already among the states with the highest rates of flu-associated hospitalizations. The Georgia Department of Public Healthreports the impact worsened over the Christmas holiday.
By the numbers
Seven people in Georgia died from flu-related complications between Dec. 20 and Dec. 27, bringing the statewide total to 29 deaths since October. At this same point last flu season, Georgia had reported no flu-associated deaths.
Hospitalizations are also rising quickly. Through Dec. 27, 511 people were hospitalized with the flu across an eight-county metro Atlanta region. That represents an increase of roughly 600 hospitalizations compared to the previous week, according to state data.
Public health experts say those numbers only tell part of the story.
“We aren’t going to have a good estimate of how many people are actually sick because many don’t get tested or seek medical care,” said Jodie Guest, an epidemiologist at Emory University. “We’re more likely to know hospitalization rates and deaths.”
Vaccinations recommended
Health officials say the surge in hospitalizations is being driven in part by an aggressive Type A flu strain circulating this season. While the strain is not a perfect match for this year’s vaccine, experts stress vaccination remains the best protection against severe illness.
The CDC recommends everyone six months and older receive an annual flu shot, especially adults 65 and older, young children, pregnant women, and people with chronic conditions. It takes about two weeks after vaccination for full protection to develop, but the vaccine can still reduce the risk of hospitalization and death.
“People tend to judge the vaccine by whether it completely stops them from getting sick,” said Bonzo Reddick, a Georgia public health director. “But for those who do get the flu, it’s usually much less severe and makes you far less likely to end up in the hospital.”
Flu shots are widely available at health departments, pharmacies, doctors’ offices, grocery stores, and clinics, including options for uninsured residents. Antiviral medications may also help if started within 48 hours of symptom onset.
Health officials continue to urge basic prevention steps, including frequent handwashing, covering coughs and sneezes, avoiding touching the face, and staying home until fever-free for at least 24 hours.
Georgia’s weekly flu activity reports are updated each Friday. You can find them at dph.ga.gov/flu-activity-georgia.
GPB News’ Sofi Gratas contributed to this report
