While the holidays are still around the corner, the 2025-2026 flu season has already arrived in Kentucky and across the U.S.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , flu is a contagious respiratory virus that can cause mild to severe illness. The disease spreads when someone with flu coughs, sneezes or talks, releasing particles with the virus into the air, she said. People nearby can then breathe in the particles, which could cause them to get sick.

Dr. Kris Bryant, associate medical director for Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness, said flu is typically a late fall and winter disease, with peaks occurring in late November, December and January.

Cases have already started to appear within the Louisville metro area, she said, and the c

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