Nasty Flu Season Hits Northern Virginia Hard as Cases Surge Across the Region

Northern Virginia is battling one of its most aggressive flu seasons in recent years, with respiratory illnesses flooding emergency rooms, urgent care centers, and primary care offices across the region. Health officials say the situation is serious, though there may finally be early signs that the surge is beginning to slow.

According to the Virginia Department of Health, respiratory-related illnesses accounted for 22% of emergency room visits during the week ending January 3. While statewide ER visits tied to respiratory cases dipped slightly compared to late December, the overall spread remains severe. The flu’s activity level is rated high or very high in 48 states, underscoring just how widespread the outbreak has become.

Medical experts point to a particularly aggressive strain of influenza A — known as subclade K — as the main culprit behind this season’s intensity. The strain mutated after the 2025 flu vaccine was developed, reducing the vaccine’s effectiveness against infection, though doctors emphasize it still helps lower the risk of severe illness and hospitalization.

“This is not a mild flu,” said Meredith Porter, medical director for Inova-GoHealth Urgent Care. “Patients often say it feels like they’ve been hit by a bus.” Common symptoms include high fever, body aches, cough, extreme fatigue, and chills, with symptoms typically peaking quickly.

Flu season usually runs from December through February, but Porter noted that cases began rising sharply after schools closed and holiday travel increased. Large gatherings, crowded airports, and social events created ideal conditions for the virus to spread — often before people even realized they were sick.

Hospitals across Northern Virginia have been stretched thin as patients seek treatment. To reduce pressure on emergency rooms, Inova-GoHealth Urgent Care — a joint venture operating 23 centers across the region — has expanded staffing levels and extended virtual visit hours until midnight.

Nasty Flu Surge Overwhelms Northern Virginia as Mutated Influenza Strain Drives ER Visits and Urgent Care Demand

“We’re trying our best to avoid people going straight to the emergency room unless it’s truly necessary,” Porter said. She advises patients experiencing typical flu symptoms to visit urgent care or their primary doctor first, where they can receive testing and antiviral medications early in the illness.

Emergency care should be reserved for serious warning signs such as difficulty breathing, chest pain, severe dehydration, or confusion.

Doctors stress that the first three days after symptoms begin are when people are most contagious. Unfortunately, that often overlaps with the time many still feel well enough to go to work, school, or stores — unknowingly spreading the virus.

“When you’re around a lot of people, you may not yet realize you’re starting to get sick,” Porter explained. “That’s how flu spreads so fast.”

She recommends staying home at the first sign of illness, resting as much as possible, and drinking plenty of fluids. For those who must go out, wearing a mask and keeping distance from others can significantly reduce transmission.

Prevention Still Matters

Even as cases begin to plateau in some areas, health experts urge residents not to let their guard down. Simple preventive measures remain powerful tools:

• Wash hands frequently with soap and water

• Use hand sanitizer when washing isn’t possible

• Wipe down high-touch surfaces like shopping carts

• Avoid close contact with people who appear sick

• Give yourself space in lines and crowded areas

“If you’re standing in a checkout line, give yourself a bit of space,” Porter advised. “It really can make a difference.”

The flu surge in Northern Virginia reflects a broader national crisis. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates there have been at least 11 million flu cases nationwide so far this season, along with 120,000 hospitalizations and 5,000 deaths. Those numbers are expected to rise before the season fully ends.

Despite the grim statistics, doctors believe the region may be nearing the worst of it. “There might be a light at the end of the tunnel,” Porter said, noting that flu activity typically begins to taper off after February.

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For now, Northern Virginians are being urged to stay vigilant, take symptoms seriously, and choose the right level of care. Early testing and treatment can shorten illness and reduce complications, while small preventive habits can protect both individuals and the community.

It may be that time of year again — but for many in Northern Virginia, this flu season has been anything but routine.