Flu season is here just in time for Christmas. These areas in Alabama are getting hit hardest.

Flu season has come to Alabama, with new cases doubling in a week just in time for the holidays.

The Alabama Department of Public Health reports roughly 2.7% of emergency room visits in the week ending Dec. 3 were for flu-like illness. That’s more than twice the rate from the previous week.

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“ADPH is monitoring influenza activity statewide through our routine surveillance systems, and we are seeing increased flu activity consistent with the seasonal trend,” Ryan Easterling, director of health media and communications at ADPH said in an email to AL.com this week.

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The current rate of nearly 3% is typical for this time of year. This time last year, the rate was even higher, at nearly 4%. Last flu season the rate peaked at 8%.

Early in the 2025-2026 flu season, some parts of Alabama are already getting it worse than others.

[Can’t see the map? Click here.]

ADPH divides the state into eight different health districts. The East Central district, which includes Montgomery and Auburn, currently has the state’s highest rate, with nearly 5% of ED visits being for flu.

In Jefferson County, home of Birmingham and the most populous county in the state, the rate was 3%.

“As flu activity increases, ADPH encourages persons to take steps to reduce their risk of influenza and help prevent spread within their communities,” Easterling said.

Some tips include:

• Get an annual flu shot. ADPH says this is the most effective way to prevent flu and severe illness.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water or hand sanitizer.
• Cover coughs and sneezes.
• Stay home if you are sick to prevent spreading illness to others.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces.
• Avoid touching your face, including the eyes, nose, and mouth.