The Clorox CompanyFamily of Brands
Reset shared spaces daily - Save up to $150!

Home

CloroxPro Blog
    CleaningPathogens

2025–26 Cold & Flu Update

March 3, 3036 — Influenza-Like Illnesses (ILI)/Flu remain elevated; RSV hospitalizations are rising, and both Norovirus and HMPV are at high levels.

  • RSV remains elevated with hospitalizations increasing. Highest in the Northeast.
  • ILI/Flu remains elevated. The majority of cases are Flu B.
  • Norovirus is very high. Expect it to start slowing down this time of year.
  • Human metapneumovirus (HMPV) has arrived onto the scene with activity high and rising.
  • COVID is low and decreasing nationally.
  • Frequent cleaning and disinfection of high-touch surfaces can help to limit the spread of respiratory viruses and norovirus.
A color chart showing that nationally, respiratory illness is moderate

Source: CDC Respiratory Illness Data Channel

A map of the United States showing levels of influenza during the week of January 31, 2026

Map source: CDC Flu View

Share this article

About the Author

Profile image of Doe Kley, RN, MPH, CIC, LTC-CIP, T-CHEST
Infection Prevention Fellow, Clorox Healthcare
Doe Kley is the Infection Prevention Fellow within Clorox Healthcare’s Clinical and Scientific Affairs team and is passionate about identifying problems and finding solutions to the many challenges faced in infection prevention. She develops tools and solutions based on her nearly 20 years of clinical expertise.  Much of her expertise in acute care infection prevention comes from working in large healthcare systems including Intermountain Healthcare and Kaiser Permanente. Doe is a registered nurse and received her Master of Public Health from the University of Nevada, Reno, as well as a Bachelor of Microbiology from Weber State University. She taught an infection control course for the Ohio State University (OSU) from 2019 to 2022 and is also dual board certified in infection prevention and epidemiology in both acute and long-term care. Additionally, Doe is certified to train EVS through the Association for the Healthcare Environment (AHE) and is currently a member of AHE, the Association for Professionals in Infection Control & Epidemiology (APIC), the Association of Perioperative Registered Nurses (AORN) and the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA). Doe is active on several committees including the Test Committee for the Certification Board of Infection Control & Epidemiology (CBIC) and the Advisory Council for the Pearce Foundation Environmental Services Optimization Playbook (EvSOP). She also served on the Board of Directors for the California APIC Coordinating Council (CACC) in 2022.

More from the Clorox Pro Blog

References

  1. CDC. Respiratory Illness Data Channel, Jan 30, 2026 [Internet]. [cited 2026 Jan 30]. Available from CDC.
  2. Rivers, C. Force of Infection: Outbreak Outlook, 2/8/2026. [cited 2026 Feb 09]. Available with subscription.
  3. CDC. FluView. Weekly US Influenza Surveillance Report: Key Updates, Jan 30, 2026 [Internet]. [cited 2026 Jan 30]. Available from CDC.
  4. BlueDot. ILI Pulse, Issue 74; Feb 4, 2026. [cited 2026 Feb 4]. Available with subscription.
  5. CDC. Respiratory Virus Activity Levels, Jan 30, 2026 [Internet]. [cited 2026 Jan 30]. Available from CDC.
  6. CDC. NREVSS Dashboard, Feb 6, 2026 [Internet]. [cited 2026 Feb 06]. Available from CDC.
  7. CIDRAP. Estimated effectiveness of this season’s flu vaccine against medically attended illness in low to-mid-range, 2/6/2026 [Internet]. [cited 2026 Feb 09]. Available from CIDRAP.