# Flu season picks up months early as mutated virus spreads in parts of the US

https://mins.news/en/item/111687

- CNN, 2026-10-22 19:32 UTC
- Health
- Original: https://www.cnn.com/2026/10/22/health/flu-2026-mutation?Date=20261022&Profile=CNN

> Flu activity in the United States is increasing months ahead of schedule, with a mutated virus spreading in some areas and catching some people off guard before they have even begun thinking about their annual flu shots.