Flu season gets an early start in Texas

Zoom in: State hospital laboratories reported more than 800 flu cases from Oct. 4-10, up from about 15 during roughly the same period in 2025, per the Texas Health and Human Services department.

Flashback: The U.S. saw its worst flu season in 25 years last season.

Between the lines: Doctors nationwide urge Americans to get their flu shots now. It takes up to two weeks for the vaccine to provide maximum protection.

• This season, the new U.S.-approved mRNA flu vaccine is available to adults 50 and older.
• Children make up the highest percentage of medical visits in the U.S. for flu-like illness.

What they're saying: "Every fall we begin to see a rise in respiratory virus cases here in Austin, especially with the flu," Austin-Travis County Health Authority Dr. Desmar Walkes said in a statement.

• "This can pose a serious risk as kids are back in school and will be visiting relatives, some of whom may be at risk for severe complications."

Other reminders: Wash your hands often and avoid touching your face.

• Stay home when you're sick to avoid spreading germs.

The bottom line: Trish Perl, an infectious diseases and epidemiology professor at UT Southwestern, tells Axios the early uptick in flu positivity is worth watching, but it's too soon to gauge how severe this "reliably unreliable" flu season will be.