Flu in Oklahoma: Flu Season 2026 to 2027
1.9% of outpatient visits in HHS Region 6, which includes Oklahoma, were for influenza-like illness in the week ending Sep 12, 2026. Flu activity in Oklahoma usually peaks in early February.
Flu in Oklahoma this season against the median
1.9% of outpatient visits in HHS Region 6 were for influenza-like illness in the week ending Sep 12, 2026, between seasons and under the 3.2% level that marks the start of flu season there. Influenza-like illness, in the CDC’s outpatient network, means a visit for fever with a cough or sore throat. Weekly reporting for the 2026 to 2027 season starts with the week ending Oct 10, 2026; until then the chart shows the 2025 to 2026 season against the median.
Oklahoma's own weekly ILINet figures run through the 2024 to 2025 season. The current weeks shown for Oklahoma come from HHS Region 6, the group of Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas the CDC reports it in, compared against that region's own median.
Between seasons. Season threshold: 3.2%.
Source: CDC ILINet, via the Delphi Epidata API. Median: each week’s middle value across 10 seasons since 2015 to 2016, leaving out 2020 to 2021. Season threshold: the median of MMWR weeks 40 to 43 plus one percentage point, 3.2%. Compiled 2026-09-22.
Flu hospital admissions in Oklahoma
Hospitals in Oklahoma reported 18 new laboratory confirmed flu admissions in the week ending Sep 12, 2026. Last season's busiest week, ending Feb 14, 2026, had 345. Admissions are laboratory confirmed, so they count flu itself, and they rise a week or two behind visits.
Source: CDC NHSN Weekly Hospital Respiratory Data, field totalconfflunewadm. Compiled 2026-09-22 and refreshed in the browser each visit.
When flu peaks in Oklahoma
The median peak week in Oklahoma falls in early February, against late January nationally. Across 9 seasons since 2015 to 2016, the earliest peak came in early December (2022 to 2023) and the latest in mid March (2015 to 2016). The 2024 to 2025 season peaked in the week ending Feb 1, 2025 at 6.7% of visits.
The biggest flu season in Oklahoma since 2015
The 2016 to 2017 season holds the highest weekly share in Oklahoma’s ILINet record since 2015 to 2016: 15.5% of outpatient visits in the week ending Feb 4, 2017, where the median curve tops out at 6.7%.
2020 to 2021 is left out: “There was no discernible peak in flu activity during the 2020-2021 season due to the uncharacteristically low level of influenza virus circulation that season.” CDC, Flu Season.
What the CDC says about flu shots and spread
“For most people who need only one dose of influenza vaccine for the season, September and October are generally good times to be vaccinated against influenza. Ideally, everyone should be vaccinated by the end of October.”CDC, Who Needs a Flu Vaccine, Sept. 18, 2025, quoted exactly.
“Everyone 6 months and older should get an annual flu vaccine, ideally by the end of October but people should continue to get vaccinated as long as flu viruses pose a threat to their community.”CDC, Preventing Seasonal Flu, Sept. 1, 2026, quoted exactly.
“Most experts think that influenza viruses spread mainly by droplets made when people with flu cough, sneeze, or talk. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs.”CDC, How Flu Spreads, Sept. 17, 2024, quoted exactly.
“People with flu are most contagious during the first three days of their illness.”CDC, How Flu Spreads, Sept. 17, 2024, quoted exactly.
Questions people ask about flu in Oklahoma
ILINet and NHSN figures compiled 2026-09-22 from the sources linked above and refreshed in the browser each visit. CDC quotes copied exactly from the pages linked.