Rates of influenza A, commonly known as the flu, have risen across Georgia and the nation to the highest levels that experts have seen in over 10 years. Lower vaccination rates are at the root of the spread.

According to the latest weekly report, there have been 416 flu hospitalizations in the metro area alone and 2,126 Atlanta hospitalizations since October of 2025. With the influx of flu patients, hospitals like Piedmont have been forced to adapt. 

“Piedmont Hospital takes our responsibility to the community very seriously,” Brownwen Garner, an infectious disease specialist at Piedmont Hospital, said. “Preparedness is part of daily hospital administration responsibilities. Right now, while we are seeing more cases of the flu in hospitalized patients, we continue to provide care without adjustments.”

Rachel Patzer, an epidemiologist previously based in Atlanta, believes multiple factors are contributing to the surge, including fewer people getting flu vaccinations. She believes this could be a result of Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. lowering the number of vaccines recommended for all children from 17 to 11.

“There are likely a number of contributing factors to why there has been a rise in flu,” Patzer said. “One is potentially lower vaccination rates than in prior seasons. Another is that we just finished the holiday season, where a lot more people are gathering indoors and traveling and around groups of people, which increases exposure risk.”

Garner noted that new virus strains are another source of this year’s inflation of the illness.

“This flu season is notable for high influenza activity due to a H3N2 (flu A) dominant season and a change in the H3N2 strain circulating this year,” Garner said. “H3N2 flu seasons are characterized by more severe symptoms and higher hospitalizations.” 

Garner explained the strain change was not accounted for when this flu season’s vaccine was developed, contributing to increasing numbers and Georgia’s position in the “extremely high” activity category.

“The H3N2 strain has undergone antigenic drift so that it does not match the H3N2 strain in the vaccine very well, “ Garner said. “When there is a strain mismatch like this year, it usually requires updating a component of the vaccine for the next flu season.” 

Patzer added that although the virus has changed this season, getting the shot is still beneficial. 

“While the vaccine is still effective especially in preventing severe disease and illnesses, the flu virus mutates throughout the season and isn’t a perfect match to the vaccine,” Patzer said. “If it’s not an exact match, there is still a risk of getting sick, but that shouldn’t deter people from getting the flu shot.”

The antigenic drift seen this season may change vaccine technologies in the future. 

“We may see different strain forecast modeling and more interest in newer, different vaccine platforms that would allow easier and faster adaptation to changes in strains,” Garner said. “Typically, seasons like this will also invigorate interest in a universal flu vaccine. This means developing an effective vaccine to a part of the flu virus that is conserved over time.” 

Sophomore Emma Pouthier contracted the flu over semester break after traveling and noticed more intense symptoms than in previous years.

“I was traveling for most of the break, and I was in places where there were lots of people,” Pouthier said, “I caught the flu in the second half of break, and I felt more affected than I usually have in other years when I have got it. I had a high fever most of the time and felt very worn out.”

 With this specific flu strain, the main symptoms are stomach-related. 

“We have seen a little bit more nausea and vomiting than usual, but mostly similar symptoms as prior flu seasons,” emergency Physician Justin Schrager said. “There’s just been an increase.”

Following this trend, Pouthier experienced stomach-related symptoms and didn’t fully recover until the end of the break.

“I also felt slight nausea when I had it, which made it a lot worse,” Pouthier said. “I really wasn’t able to do much for a couple of days during the break because I just felt so sick.”

Schrager said vaccination is still a direct way that people can protect themselves from the flu and urges everybody to get vaccinated.

“I absolutely recommend that everyone still gets vaccinated,” Shrager said. “The evidence is still strongly supportive of vaccination, especially for those individuals who are young, elderly or immunocompromised. The vaccine is highly effective for reducing risks of hospitalizations and deaths.”

While the flu is classically more severe for adults 65 and over, the H3N2 strain circulating this season more commonly affects people under 18.

Sophomore Kaiya Hosokawa missed three days of school after contracting the flu from a fellow student. 

“The main symptoms I experienced were a high fever and cold-like symptoms,” Hosokawa said. “While I’m grateful my symptoms weren’t worse, it really set me back in school because of missing days.” 

Hosokawa has noticed that since her return, even more students seem to be out sick. 

“Two of my closest friends have now also gotten the flu, and I feel like it’s something that everyone keeps talking about more so than I remember previously,” Hosokawa said. 

Wanda Taylor, the school nurse, has observed higher cases of respiratory issues and congestion among students and urges everyone to take precautions. 

“Midtown students need to prioritize getting their flu shot, washing their hands, coughing into their sleeve and never drinking after others,” Taylor said. “If you are feeling sick, wear a mask.”