Northwest Louisiana Flu Wave Strains ERs, LDH Data Shows

Shreveport and Bossier families are feeling it right now: a rough flu season that is showing up in urgent cares and emergency rooms, not just in group texts. Louisiana Department of Health data tracks “influenza-like illness” as a share of all emergency department visits, and the latest weekly snapshot shows the state running above its regional baseline.

What the LDH emergency visit data is telling us 

LDH’s Respiratory Emergency Department Visits dashboard is built to show trends for COVID-19, influenza, and RSV, and it updates weekly on Fridays with data through the previous week. The dashboard defines influenza-like illness using symptoms and diagnoses tied to flu-related ER visits, shown as a percentage of all emergency department visits. 

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In the most recent weekly influenza and respiratory virus surveillance report (Week 50, ending Dec. 13, 2025), Louisiana’s influenza-like illness was listed at 7.0% of ED visits, marked as increasing and above the regional baseline. The same report listed Louisiana’s flu test positivity at 23.1%, also increasing. 

Why this year’s flu feels different in Shreveport and Bossier 

LDH Region 7 Medical Director Dr. Martha Whyte recently told KEEL News that the dominant flu strain being discussed locally is an H3N2 that “made a shift” from “J to K” from the Southern Hemisphere season to ours, leaving many people with weaker immunity than usual. She described it plainly: “It is a doozy,” and said the state is at a “very high” level on the flu activity map. 

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Dr. Whyte also said about 31% of people tested in her discussion were positive for influenza and that nearly 15% of visits to urgent cares and ERs were for influenza-like illness. 

When to get checked and what to watch for 

Dr. Whyte said the flu tends to hit fast, with people feeling fine and then getting knocked down quickly. She pointed to severe headaches and muscle aches this season, plus a lingering cough. She also noted antivirals like Tamiflu work best if taken within the first 24 to 72 hours after symptoms start. 

A key warning sign: if someone starts improving and then spikes a new fever, it can signal a secondary infection and should be checked out.