NYC Health Department Releases New Data Showing More Than 146,000 Flu Cases This Respiratory Virus Season
More than 1,700 Flu Cases Reported Last Week as Flu Continues to Circulate in New York City
This Season, 52 Percent of Flu Cases in New York City Among Children Under 18
February 12, 2026 — Today, the NYC Health Department released data on respiratory virus season as the flu continues to circulate in New York City. New data show more than 1,700 lab-reported cases for the week ending February 7, marking the first increase in flu cases since the week ending December 20, 2025. The NYC Health Department is reporting no additional pediatric flu deaths since last week. Flu season can last until early May, and the NYC Health Department reminds New Yorkers there is still time to get vaccinated while continuing to follow recommendations to protect themselves and their loved ones. Vaccines are available from hundreds of providers around the city, including pharmacies. Find a COVID-19, flu, and RSV vaccine near you by using the NYC Health Map.
For the respiratory season to date, among flu cases with information about race and ethnicity, 36 percent were Latino, 28 percent were white, 23 percent were Black, and 14 percent were Asian/Pacific Islander. Overall, however, 31 percent of all flu cases reported this season were missing race and ethnicity information. Differences in these health outcomes among racial and ethnic groups may reflect differences in health care access as well as in testing and reporting practices.
“Although the uptick in flu cases this week has been small, it serves as good reminder for all New Yorkers that flu season isn’t over,” said NYC Health Department Acting Commissioner and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Michelle Morse. “The best way to protect yourself from flu complications is to get vaccinated. New Yorkers should continue to wash their hands, cover their coughs and sneezes, and stay home if they feel sick.”
To date this season, there have been more than 146,000 positive flu cases reported in New York City. Over half, 52 percent, have been in children under 18. For the week ending February 7, there were more than 1,700 lab-reported flu cases, which represents a small increase after seven weeks of declining flu cases. Emergency room visits and hospitalizations with flu diagnoses continue to decrease and currently are at less than 0.5 percent for all visits and hospitalizations.
Among other respiratory viruses, laboratory-reported RSV cases remained relatively stable but elevated, particularly among New Yorkers younger than 5 years old. The proportions of emergency room visits and hospitalizations with RSV diagnoses also remain elevated for this group. COVID-19 cases are low and increased slightly to over 1,000 cases compared to over 800 cases the previous week. Emergency room visits and hospitalizations with COVID-19 diagnoses remained low but increased slightly to 0.3 percent of visits and hospitalizations.
The NYC Health Department will continue to update these preliminary data as new information is received. The Health Department’s Respiratory Illness Data Page will be updated next on February 19, with data through the week ending February 14.
Last year’s flu season (2024-2025) was record-setting for pediatric flu deaths, with 289 deaths reported nationwide. In the current respiratory season, 60 pediatric flu deaths have been reported nationally through the week ending January 31. Nationwide, among those eligible for the flu shot, approximately 90 percent of reported pediatric deaths this season have occurred in children who were not fully vaccinated against flu. There have been four pediatric flu deaths reported in NYC this respiratory season. Early research from the United Kingdom found that this year’s flu vaccine was more than 70 percent effective at keeping children and adolescents out of the hospital.
Stay Safe
The NYC Health Department is reminding New Yorkers that flu season is far from over, and cases could continue to rise in the coming weeks. The department is urging New Yorkers to remain vigilant and continue taking precautions to stay healthy and safe.
COVID-19, flu, and RSV can cause serious illness and make you sick for days or even weeks. Each year, about 1,500 to 2,000 New Yorkers die of seasonal flu and pneumonia, which can develop as a complication of any of these three viruses. More than 900 people died from COVID-19 in New York City in 2024. If you or someone in your household is sick, take precautions, such as:
- Get vaccinated
- Wear a mask
- Wash your hands often
- Cover your coughs and sneezes
- Clean frequently touched surfaces
- Stay home when sick
If you have symptoms, get tested for flu and COVID-19 right away so you can start treatment if eligible. Many doctors’ offices, clinics, urgent care centers and pharmacies offer testing for COVID-19, flu and other respiratory viruses in one test.
The Health Department recommends all New Yorkers 6 months and older get this season’s flu and COVID-19 vaccines. Adults 75 and older, and those ages 50–74 with certain chronic conditions or other risk factors, should also get an RSV vaccine if they have not done so before. To protect the youngest New Yorkers, pregnant people should get the RSV vaccine during pregnancy, or their newborn should get an RSV monoclonal antibody.
The Health Department’s Respiratory Illness Data Page posts data on COVID-19, flu, and RSV trends across the city, updated every Thursday.
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MEDIA CONTACT: PressOffice@health.nyc.gov