Alabama health providers warn of unusually early flu activity
Health officials are raising the alarm about high rates of influenza-like illness across Alabama, a surge that’s striking sooner than expected.
“This is the highest flu activity that we have seen this early in the season since the 2009 Influenza A/H1N1 pandemic,” said Dr. Wes Stubblefield, pediatrician and district medical officer with the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH).
Last week, 10.34% of outpatient visits in Alabama were related to influenza-like illness (ILI), which includes patients presenting with symptoms of fever, cough or sore throat. The state doesn’t normally approach these numbers until the end of the year.

While it’s not clear how many of these people tested positive for the flu, statewide laboratory samples show influenza is present in every public health district. The outbreak is concentrated among young people aged 5-24 years, and is taking a toll on outpatient pediatric offices and children’s hospitals.
Children’s of Alabama has seen a “surge of admissions” in recent weeks related to influenza and related complications.
“These have included those patients who have required ventilation and some so severe that ECMO (heart-lung-bypass) support was needed,” said Dr. Michele Kong, professor of pediatrics and director of the Pediatric Critical Care Research Program at Children’s. “We urge families to take the flu virus seriously and to ensure that their children and adolescents are protected. ”
Officials with Children’s of Alabama would not release data on how many inpatients are being treated for influenza-like illnesses.
Statewide, 257 people were hospitalized with influenza on Tuesday, with 43 people in Intensive Care Units. Alabama Hospital Association president Dr. Don Williamson said these numbers are not out of line with a normal flu season, but they are peaking early.
Officials with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warned about an early flu season in an October report, noting the possible impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and two seasons with minimal influenza activity.
“Reduced population immunity, particularly among young children who may never have had flu exposure or been vaccinated, could bring about a robust return of flu,” officials said in the report. “CDC is particularly concerned about drops in flu vaccine coverage in the past two years among higher risk groups, including children and pregnant people.”
Even as flu activity increases across the country, Alabama’s numbers standout. It’s one of three states with “very high” influenza-like illness activity, according to the CDC.

UAB epidemiologist Dr. Rachael Lee said it’s not clear what’s to blame for the increase in Alabama.
“I think in the South we’ve been fairly open with our masking around one another and we saw cases of RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) and other respiratory viruses in the summer and last year,” Lee said. “So it seems a little bit off that it would be due to the masks coming off now, especially in the southeast.”
Lee said she thinks one reason for the outbreak is that people are going to work and school while sick. And because this flu season is hitting unexpectedly soon, people have had less time to get vaccinated and develop immunity.
Lee said it’s too soon to know how well this year’s vaccine is working against the circulating influenza strains. She said typically, flu vaccines are about 40% effective at preventing illness, but they generally help reduce the severity of symptoms and prevent hospitalization in those who do get sick.
Alabama health officials continue to encourage residents to get vaccinations, which are available to anyone over the age of six months. Those who do get sick should drink fluids, rest and stay home.
Richard Banks contributed to this story.
Federal judge says Kari Lake can’t fire Voice of America director
A federal judge has ruled that Trump administration official Kari Lake can't unilaterally fire the director of Voice of America.
Public media stations in rural America say emergency-alert funding is in jeopardy
Without Congressionally-approved funding, public media stations say communities will be left with aging infrastructure amid growing risks from extreme weather.
Video: Echoes of Katrina – Two decades of struggle and strength
NPR station photographer and New Orleans native Tyrone Turner travelled back to Louisiana to document the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
The federal government is taking over D.C.’s Union Station. What does that mean?
The Department of Transportation says it will be "reclaiming management" of the transportation hub, which it has owned since the 1980s. D.C.'s mayor says that would be an "amazing initiative."
Whatever happened to the women in the ‘No Sex for Fish’ group?
NPR first wrote about the group "No Sex for Fish" in 2019 — Kenyan women out to end the practice of trading sex to a fisherman in exchange for his catch to sell. Since then they're faced tribulations.
Why billions of folks can’t easily get a drink or flush a toilet
A report from the World Health Organization says 1 in 4 people lack access to safe water to drink. Even more don't have water for sanitation. We asked someone who grew up that way to share childhood memories.