What happened?
The US CDC reports that seasonal influenza activity is increasing in many areas but remains low for Week 40 (week ending 2026-10-10). Of 300 positives at public health labs, 97% were influenza A; among subtyped A viruses, 96% were A(H1N1)pdm09. Hospitalisations and outpatient visits for ILI have risen since late August/early September.
Why does it matter?
Rising test positivity, outpatient ILI visits and hospitalisation rates indicate early-season circulation above typical levels for this time of year. Genetic and antigenic testing showed the majority of A(H1N1)pdm09 viruses belong to a D.3.1.1 HA subclade and most characterised viruses matched current vaccine reference strains.
How to interpret the evidence
Data are preliminary and US-specific; surveillance covers selected labs and regions and may not reflect all cases. The report describes population-level trends, not individual risk. Findings are observational and informative for public health planning. EU/Malta applicability depends on local surveillance and vaccine composition; the genetic results may be relevant but do not imply local availability or approval.
What remains uncertain?
This report does not mean severe widespread activity is occurring; overall activity was still described as low. It does not indicate vaccine effectiveness in individuals, local case counts in Malta, or new regulatory approvals. Novel influenza infections were not reported in this update.
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This summary was prepared with AI assistance and checked automatically against the linked primary source. It has not been individually reviewed by a clinician.