Fact Check: Did Colorado experience its highest-ever weekly flu hospitalization?

DENVER, COLORADO: A claim began circulating online that Colorado recently experienced its highest weekly influenza hospitalization on record. Given widespread concern over the state’s ongoing flu season and the potential strain on the healthcare system, let us evaluate the rumors by analysing the reports and fact-checking the claims.

Claim: Colorado sees the worst week of flu cases

In recent weeks, reports have claimed that Colorado experienced an unusually severe surge in the influenza related haspitalizations towards the end of December, potentially marking the worst such week since the state began systematically tracking hospitalization data. 

The claim also points to heightened flu activity in emergency rooms, contrasting trends in other respiratory illnesses, and concerns over lagging vaccination uptake. 

Fact Check: Claim is supported by state and federal data

Examination of the latest available data and reports indicates that, contrary to the assertion, the latest available state-level data does, in fact, reflect a high number of flu-related hospitalizations in late December, described in various sources as high and, in fact, the highest in almost two decades.

According to state health statistics, there were 846 hospitalized cases of the flu for the week ending December 27, 2025, reported, dubbed the highest weekly number since the state started monitoring hospitalized cases in the early 2000s, according to local news.

Various reports from local news and health department statements have observed a significant increase in hospitalization rates and flu activity around the same time compared with other high flu years in the past.

According to national surveillance by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there is elevated and ongoing flu activity for the 2025-2026 flu season.

Flu hospitalizations show recent decline

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) reported on Saturday the state's second pediatric flu death this season.

However, after weeks of increasing flu cases across the state, the number of people being admitted for the illness is down sharply.

That’s despite school picking back up and people returning to work from the holidays.

CDPHE said the vaccine is still helping where it matters most. It is stopping about three-quarters of hospital visits in kids and about one-third in adults.