Flu is spreading early in Hawaiʻi, and health officials are warning people to get vaccinated now — bad news for anyone heading into a busy fall season.

• Positive flu tests jumped from 4% to over 20% in a month.
• Flu now accounts for 5% of emergency room visits, which officials call high.
• The early October timing is unusual — the season is arriving ahead of schedule.
• Officials are pushing COVID and RSV shots at the same time, since overall respiratory illness is rising.
• People are being reminded to stay home when sick to slow the spread.

Outlook: Expect flu cases and ER visits to keep rising in the coming weeks as the season builds.