Jan 04, 2026
3 min read
The flu is on the rise across the country and we are nowhere near peak infections.
PITTSBURGH – The flu is on the rise across the country, and we are nowhere near peak infections.
Dr. Amesh Adalja expects flu cases to increase in the coming weeks and not level off until after February.
"It's looking for a population with low immunity. These new viruses that are important can spread quickly and rapidly through the population," said epidemiologist Amesh Adalja.
Dr.Adalja told Channel 11: "We're not at the peak of the flu and if you haven't been infected, he still recommends getting a flu shot."
"It didn't take long to kill the flu because the flu hits in February, and remember the flu vaccine covers three types of flu. Later in the season, other types of flu will be strong," Adalja said.
According to the CDC, Pennsylvania is currently in the "moderate" flu activity level, with some of the highest states being New York, South Carolina and Louisiana.
Here in Pittsburgh, Dr.Adalja noticed an increase in cases.
"Cases are increasing in the Pittsburgh area. They don't appear to be leading to intensive care or severe cases, but there are people being hospitalized," Adalja said.
While there have been hospitalizations, the good news is that Dr. Adalya doesn't predict as much pressure on hospitals as there was with COVID.
"For example, there is nothing like the H1N1 pandemic of 2009. There is no pressure on hospitals in terms of ICU beds and ventilators, but obviously, emergency departments may be busier and urgent care may be busier when a lot of people get sick with the flu," Adalja said.
His biggest advice is to stay home if you can.
"We want people here to stay home from work. If we can, we want to work from home if we don't want kids to be out of school if they get the flu," Adalja said.
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