Wisconsin Continues to See High Respiratory Illness Levels

Tuesday, January 13th, 2026 -- 9:01 AM

(WBAY) Flu activity is continuing to climb, and health officials say the season is still unfolding as federal data shows millions of cases nationwide.

Here in Wisconsin, the DHS is reporting that respiratory illness levels remain high. “We’ve had an uptick in influenza, but not just that. COVID has been coming on, and we’ve had a fair amount of strep,” says Dr. Michael Hodulik, the urgent care director for Emplify Health.

State health data shows those illnesses appearing at very high levels, indicating that transmission remains widespread. “The H3N2 hit, and that one wasn’t covered by the flu shot, and so it’s kept us busy,” says Dr. Hodulik.

The mix of illnesses going around is making it harder for patients to know what they’re dealing with or when it’s time to get checked. For patients experiencing common flu symptoms like fever, body aches, and a headache, doctors say seeking care early is important.

“Come in right away. Whether it’s 6 hours, 12 hours, 24 hours,” says Dr. Hodulik. For influenza, there are treatments that, when started early, can help the body fight off illness more effectively.

“If you can get in within the first 48 hours, we can have anti-viral medications on board that can help your body get the upper hand and fight that,” says Dr. Hodulik. Doctors also advise getting the flu shot if it’s right for you, saying it’s not too late in the season to prevent yourself from getting sick.

“It’s not just the H3N2. Influenza B will be coming on later in the year; we’re going to see it. Even other influenza A strains we’ll see later on, too. It’s never too late to get a flu shot,” says Dr. Hodulik.

The CDC does say this flu season is still developing and is expected to continue for a few more weeks, with activity expected to remain high.

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