A Hueytown boy diagnosed with the flu is battling for his life on Christmas Eve in critical condition at Children’s of Alabama. Jace Watkins, 11, was sick on Thursday, visited a doctor Friday, then had a seizure on Saturday, his family said. A crowd including family and friends gathered in Hueytown City Park on Tuesday night to pray for Jace.

Experts share tips to protect children and family members from the flu -- including the subclade K variant -- ahead of the Christmas holiday.

To help reduce the risk of passing flu and other respiratory infections to others, Prof Keat stresses the need for "good respiratory etiquette", such as sneezing into a tissue and binning it or sneezing into the crook of the arm if a tissue is unavailable.

As Christmas approaches, health experts are warning about a surge in flu cases driven by a variant dubbed the "super flu," which has already affected millions this year.

Early in the 2025-2026 flu season, some parts of Alabama are already getting it worse than others. ADPH divides the state into eight different health districts. The East Central district, which includes Montgomery and Auburn, currently has the state’s highest rate, with nearly 5% of ED visits being for flu.

Health professionals are urging those eligible for a a flu jab to get one, as cases are rising among children and young people. Dr Catherine Monaghan, a respiratory consultant and medical director for the North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board,

Common cold, flu and COVID-19 symptoms and cases can spike during the year-ending holidays, according to Johns Hopkins winter illness guide, but confusing respiratory illness symptoms could be dangerous.

“Unless your health care provider tells you otherwise, it’s best not to take pain relievers one or two days before the flu vaccine and for a week afterward,” said study author David J. Topham at the Center for Vaccine Biology and Immunology at the University of Rochester Medical Center.

Flu cases in Monroe County are up by 120 percent over last week. With the surge occurring into the holidays, local hospital leaders explained why they are especially concerned this season.

Jace Watkins’ family said he got sick Thursday, saw a doctor on Friday and was told his lungs looked good, and then had a seizure Saturday.

AN emergency doctor in one of Ireland’s busiest hospitals has issued a major health alert as flu cases continue to soar. Dr Sean Underwood, who works as an emergency doctor in Cork