2026 Seasonal Influenza Update with Dr. Joe Holley

We delve into the recent surge of Influenza cases across large swaths of the United States in recent weeks. This year is shaping up to be a particularly difficult year for health care facilities and the patients who need them for treatment. Dr. Joe Holley joins us today to discuss what he’s seeing in the Memphis, Tennessee area and what the national flu outlook is.

The most common Influenza A strain right now is causing a surge in ER visits and hospital admissions across the U.S. right now. The dominant Influenza A strain for the 2025-2026 flu season is the A(H3N2) subclade K, a variant with notable mutations. The annual vaccine is moderately effective at preventing severe illness and hospitalization and the subclade K variant responds well to antivirals such as Tamiflu.

The episode was co-hosted by Sam Bradley and Jamie Davis.

Scroll down for Podcast Discussion Summary

Thank you as always to Paragon Medical Education Group for their long-term support of the Disaster Podcast. Dr. Joe Holley and the team at Paragon continue to provide excellent and customized disaster response training to jurisdictions around the U.S. and internationally as well.

Podcast Discussion Summary

Flu Trends and Vaccination Impact

Joe and Jamie discussed the recent surge in flu cases, particularly affecting unvaccinated individuals and those with underlying health conditions. Jamie shared his experience of being admitted to the ER with influenza A and noted that vaccinated individuals were more likely to be discharged. Joe confirmed that national trends showed higher hospitalization rates and deaths among the unvaccinated, elderly, and those with other medical issues.

Flu Awareness for Healthcare

Jamie shared his severe flu experience, which included a high fever, chills, and muscle cramps, leading him to seek emergency care. He emphasized the importance of flu awareness for healthcare professionals, noting the recent increase in flu-related deaths and pediatric deaths reported by the CDC.

Healthcare Virus Transmission Prevention

Jamie and Joe discussed protective measures for healthcare providers against virus transmission, emphasizing hand hygiene, respiratory protection, and avoiding confined spaces with sick individuals. Joe highlighted the risk of virus spread in confined environments like airplanes, while Jamie shared personal experiences and encouraged listeners to take transmission prevention seriously, noting its impact on their community.

Post-COVID Brain Fog Symptoms

Jamie described experiencing “brain fog” after recovering from COVID-19, which made mental tasks difficult and required significant mental effort. Joe explained that this could be due to increased inflammatory markers and the body’s energy exp