Influenza cases are surging across Maine far earlier and harder than health officials typically see, with new data showing infections and hospitalizations more than doubling in a single week.
According to the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 864 flu cases were reported statewide for the week ending Dec. 20, up sharply from 320 cases the week before. Hospitalizations tied to influenza also spiked, jumping from 27 to 69 over the same period.
“We anticipated a bad flu year, and we are certainly seeing that. It’s been horrible so far,” said Dr. Laura Blaisdell, a Portland pediatrician and infectious disease expert.
Flu season typically runs from October through May, with Maine’s worst weeks usually hitting in January or February. During peak periods, thousands of cases can be reported statewide each week. Blaisdell said this year’s surge is arriving earlier than normal and is being driven by Influenza A, H3N2, a strain known to cause more severe illness.
The contrast with last year is stark. During the same reporting week in 2024, the Maine CDC recorded just 124 flu cases and 10 hospitalizations.
Dr. Dora Anne Mills, chief health improvement officer for MaineHealth, said primary care practices across the system are being hit hard.
“Flu has skyrocketed the last week, and hit hard,” Mills said.
Health officials are urging people who develop symptoms such as fever, chills, fatigue or headaches to get tested as soon as possible. Blaisdell emphasized that antiviral treatments are most effective only in the first 72 hours after symptoms begin.
Flu activity is rising across the Northeast as well. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports “very high” flu levels in New York and New Jersey, “high” levels in Massachusetts and Connecticut, and “moderate” levels in New Hampshire. Federal data lag state reporting by about a week, meaning Maine was still listed as “low” in the most recent CDC update despite the sharp jump in cases since then.
At the same time, COVID-19 cases are also climbing. The Maine CDC reported 384 COVID-19 cases for the week ending Dec. 20, up from 233 the prior week.
Flu vaccines remain available statewide at primary care offices, pharmacies and clinics, and patients can receive a flu shot and an updated COVID-19 vaccine during the same appointment.
While the current flu vaccine is not a close match to the dominant strain, Blaisdell said it still reduces the risk of severe illness and helps slow the spread. Experts note that circulating strains often shift later in the season, potentially improving the vaccine’s effectiveness.
Mills added that basic precautions, frequent handwashing, staying home when sick, wearing a mask and avoiding crowded indoor gatherings can also help reduce the risk of infection as cases continue to climb.
