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Sarah Jacoby
Health Reporter
The state of Connecticut has already recorded its first flu-related deaths in a flu season that’s hit earlier than is typical.
Six people have died since the week ending in Sept. 26, according to new data from the Connecticut Department of Public Health.
That week saw the first death, followed by three more in the week ending in October 17 and another two deaths in the week ending in October 24. All six Connecticut residents who’ve died from influenza so far this season were age 55 or older, the department says.
It’s not known right now whether those who’ve died received flu vaccinations this year, a spokesperson for the Connecticut Department of Public Health tells TODAY.com.
There have also been nine COVID deaths since September in the state.
“Our hearts are with the families and loved ones of the people that have been lost. These deaths are a sobering reminder that flu can be serious, especially for older adults, and that respiratory virus season is already here,” Dr. Manisha Juthani, commissioner of the public health department, said in a press release.
This time last year, Connecticut had not recorded any flu-related deaths, data show. Flu cases in the state have increased more than 22% since last week and flu-related hospitalizations have increased more than 64%.
In the state, flu cases typically peak during December or January, but the exact timing varies, the department spokesperson said. The amount of flu cases, hospitalizations and deaths Connecticut is seeing right now is comparable to what the state saw in mid-to-late November of last year, they said.
That increase is similar to what public health experts are seeing in much of the country as the flu arrives earlier in the season than usual this year.
“Peak influenza activity would be expected during early December 2026 should this pattern continue,” the spokesperson said. That means you shouldn’t wait to take advantage of all the ways you can protect yourself and your community ahead of the winter holiday season.
While no two flu seasons are identical, cases typically pick up around October and last through March, the Mayo Clinic says — though it’s not unusual for cases to linger through May.
It’s still too early to know exactly how the 2026-2027 flu season will play out, but experts told TODAY.com they’ve noticed a concerning trend: Flu cases began to tick up as early as August this year.
While cases are still low overall, they are growing in much of the U.S., according to data from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The most recent CDC data available indicate a nearly 6% increase in positive flu tests in the last week.
An early flu season does not necessarily mean a severe flu season, however, the experts said. A newly mutated version of the H1N1 influenza A strain is thought to be responsible for many of the current early flu cases, TODAY.com reported previously, but it’s too early to know whether this version of the virus leads to more serious illness.
To protect yourself and your family from the flu, you can get a flu vaccine. Experts typically recommend getting your flu vaccine before the end of October. And this year’s vaccine is already available at pharmacies, clinics and doctors’ offices.
“If you haven’t gotten it yet for whatever reason, now’s the time to get vaccinated because the flu season is starting a little bit sooner and you need at least two weeks for the vaccine immunity to (reach) protective levels,” Andrew Pekosz, Ph.D., a virologist at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, told TODAY.com previously.
Vaccination is especially important for those considered to be at a higher risk for severe flu complications, which includes older adults, young children and those who are immunocompromised. Getting your vaccine now will also ensure that you’re at a solid level of immunity heading into the winter holiday season.
In addition to getting vaccinated, you can also:
And keep in mind that flu isn’t the only illness circulating right now. Both COVID and RSV are also in the mix, and it’s worth making sure you know how to protect yourself from those viruses as well.
Sarah Jacoby is a health reporter at TODAY.
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