The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Friday that the flu hospitalization rate stands at the highest level for this time of year since the 2010 season.

Positive flu tests, emergency room visits, and hospitalizations have risen steadily since late August and early September. The weekly hospitalization rate, though still low overall, exceeds levels seen at the same point in any season since the 2009-2010 H1N1 pandemic period.

Adults age 65 and older face the highest hospitalization rates, followed by those ages 50 to 64 and children ages 0 to 4. Louisiana and Hawaii currently report moderate flu activity, while all other states show low or minimal levels.

Data from Walgreens indicate that flu activity is running approximately four weeks ahead of recent seasons. Purchases of cold and flu medicines have increased nearly 22 percent compared with the prior year. States including California, Florida, Hawaii, Nevada, and Washington show some of the highest current levels according to pharmacy tracking.

The CDC update aligns with broader surveillance showing early acceleration in influenza indicators this fall. Officials continue to emphasize vaccination as the primary defense against severe outcomes, particularly for high-risk groups.

Hospital admissions data from the Influenza Hospitalization Surveillance Network and the National Healthcare Safety Network reflect the upward trend in confirmed cases requiring inpatient care. The agency noted that the season's early start could strain healthcare resources in coming weeks if trends persist.