At least 198 children died from influenza during the 2025–26 flu season, according to the CDC's final weekly FluView report for that season, published Oct. 9. Three of those deaths were reported in the latest week, even though they occurred months earlier, a reminder that the toll can still change as late reports arrive.
The same report marks the start of the 2026–27 season, and early activity is highest on the West Coast. Families in California, Washington, Oregon and neighboring states are seeing the first signs of a new season while the cost of the last one is still being counted.
