Influenza cases are on the rise in North Dakota

FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) — Statewide, North Dakota has seen a spike of forty-seven percent of influenza cases since last week, with a majority of those cases reported in Cass County.

“We’re seeing a huge influx of respiratory illnesses, especially Influenza A. In the past week, in the Essentia Emergency Department, fifteen percent of the total patients we’ve seen have had Influenza A. So it’s a huge increase in volume due to those seasonal respiratory viruses,” said Dr. Josh Honeyman, Emergency Medicine Physician at Essentia.

Over the last couple of years, influenza cases for the season have risen each year. From 2021 to 2022, there were 10,610 cases. Then, from 2024 to 2025, it rose to 11,925 cases. As of right now, there are a reported 3,691 cases.

“There’s a seasonality to viral illnesses that we expect. And we’re at the correct time of year for that, and also with the holidays and everybody kind of gathering and travel in close contact with people who are sick. These are all airborne viruses. Usually, we’re just seeing a big increase after those holiday gatherings,” said Honeyman.

While influenza cases have been on the rise in the last week, Dr. Honeyman says this isn’t the most we are going to get.

“I don’t think we’ve seen the peak quite yet. So I think we’re going to continue to see many influenza cases for the next several weeks,” said Honeyman.

Dr. Honeyman suggests that if you are suffering from those severe symptoms to visit your local emergency department. Or contact your primary care doctor.