South Dakota Health Officials Release End-of-Season Flu Summary: Cases Top 16,000 as Peak Recedes

Northeast Radio SD News – South Dakota - The South Dakota Department of Health (DOH) has released its latest influenza summary, detailing the impact of the virus across the state as of April 1, 2026.

According to data released by state epidemiologists, the current season has been characterized by the dominance of the Influenza A (H3N2) strain. While the season saw significant activity, several metrics indicate a decrease in severity compared to the previous winter, 2024-2025.

The 2025-2026 Numbers at a Glance

Data as of April 1 shows that South Dakota recorded:

·         Confirmed Cases: 16,670 (Culture, PCR, or DFA)

·         Hospitalizations: 905

·         Total Deaths: 25

·         Peak Activity: The second week of February

Health officials noted that the season reached its height in mid-February, following the historical trend of peak activity occurring in the first or second week of that month.

Year-over-Year Comparisons

Compared to last year’s particularly harsh season—which saw 65 deaths and over 21,000 confirmed cases—the 2025-2026 season has been notably less fatal. However, hospitalizations remain high. The 905 hospitalizations recorded so far this year exceed the historical average of 690 (based on data from 2017-2025).

Season	Dominant Virus	Confirmed Cases	Hospitalizations	Deaths
2025-2026	A (H3N2)	16,670	905	25
2024-2025	A (H1N1)	21,860	1,547	65
2023-2024	A (H1N1) & B Victoria	20,184	856	46
8-Year Average	—	12,504	690	40

Public Health and Reporting

The Department of Health continues to track influenza-associated hospitalizations and deaths. A death or hospitalization is reportable if a patient had a positive influenza test of any kind within the 14 days prior to the event.

While the peak has passed, health officials still encourage residents to stay informed and follow standard respiratory hygiene. For medical professionals and the public, the DOH maintains a real-time Influenza Dashboard with updated localized data.

For more information on the current flu season or to view the full data dashboard, visit the South Dakota Department of Health website.