Flu season in Virginia usually runs from October through May. Cases typically start rising in November and peak between December and February. During the 2025–2026 season, respiratory illness in Virginia peaked in late December, with influenza A the most common strain and young children having the highest rate of ER visits. The best time to get your flu shot is now, before cases climb.
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The most common flu complications are pneumonia, sinus infections, ear infections, and worsening of asthma, COPD, heart disease or diabetes. Less common but serious complications include inflammation of the heart, brain or muscles, and sepsis. A key warning sign is feeling better and then getting worse again with fever and a deeper cough. Get seen promptly if that happens.
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Stay home from work or school until your symptoms are improving overall and you have been fever-free for at least 24 hours without fever-reducing medicine. For most people that is about 4 to 7 days after symptoms start. For the next 5 days, take extra care: wash hands often, cover coughs, consider a mask and keep distance from people at higher risk.
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Yes. In Virginia, a provider can assess flu symptoms by video and, when appropriate, prescribe an antiviral like Tamiflu and send it to your pharmacy. Telehealth works well for adults and older kids with typical flu symptoms in the first 48 hours. You will need an in-person visit for a flu test, breathing treatment, IV fluids or an X-ray. PACS telemedicine visits are $75 for self-pay patients.
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Antiviral medicines like oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and baloxavir (Xofluza) work best when started within 48 hours of your first flu symptoms. They can shorten the flu by about a day and lower the risk of complications. They are recommended for anyone hospitalized and for people at higher risk, and may be prescribed to healthy people seen early. Urgent care providers can prescribe them after a quick exam or flu test.
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People at higher risk of serious flu complications include adults 65 and older, children under 5, pregnant people and those up to 2 weeks after delivery, and people with asthma, COPD, heart disease, diabetes, kidney or liver disease, obesity or a weakened immune system. If you are high-risk, get a yearly flu shot and get seen quickly if symptoms start, since antivirals are recommended for you.
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Go to the ER or call 911 if flu causes trouble breathing, chest pain or pressure, confusion, seizures, bluish lips, signs of severe dehydration, or symptoms that improve and then return worse. For typical flu symptoms like fever, body aches, cough and sore throat, urgent care is faster and less expensive, and can test, prescribe antivirals and give fluids or breathing treatments.
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Take your child to urgent care for flu if they are under 5, have asthma or another chronic condition, have a fever lasting more than 3 days, are drinking less than usual, or have an ear ache or worsening cough. Go to the ER for trouble breathing, bluish lips, dehydration, a fever above 104°F, any fever in a baby under 12 weeks, or if your child is hard to wake.
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