Montana Flu Season Outpaces Last Year's Pace

Statewide flu hospitalizations reached 48 as of Oct. 24, while new state reporting rules limit routine tracking of flu and COVID-19 cases.

Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in COVID-19

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of a neat row of plain glass sample tubes with one tube raised slightly, in teal and slate with a coral accent. — Montana recorded 48 statewide flu hospitalizations as of Oct. 24, well above last year's two, as new state rules limit routine flu and COVID-19 case tracking. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Do you plan to get a flu vaccine this season?

Montana's 2026 flu season is more active than at the same point last year, with 48 flu hospitalizations reported statewide as of Oct. 24 compared with two a year earlier. The state's new communicable disease reporting rules, effective Sept. 26, no longer require providers to track routine individual COVID-19 cases or aggregate seasonal flu counts.

Why it matters

The rule change reduces administrative reporting burdens on healthcare providers and shifts state resources toward severe health threats, which means routine flu and COVID-19 activity will be less visible in public data. Residents should understand that the available hospitalization figures may not capture the full picture of community illness.

As of Oct. 24, Montana reported 48 flu hospitalizations and one flu death this season, compared with two hospitalizations at the same point last year. Under the new rules, routine individual COVID-19 cases and aggregate seasonal flu counts are no longer required to be tracked, so the state's totals may understate actual illness.

The players

Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS)

The state agency that oversees public health reporting and updated Montana's communicable disease reporting guidelines.

One Health

A health provider in Miles City that is planning a public flu vaccination clinic at 601 Main St.

The details

Effective Sept. 26, 2026, the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services updated its communicable disease reporting guidelines. Commercial laboratories must now use automated electronic systems to report positive and negative results for flu, RSV, and hepatitis, while providers are no longer required to track routine COVID-19 cases. As of Oct. 24, 265 RSV tests had been performed statewide, with 0.38 percent testing positive.

2023-2024 flu season: last flu-related death in Custer County reported.
2025-2026 flu season: Montana recorded 760 flu hospitalizations and 23 flu deaths statewide.
Sept. 26, 2026: New communicable disease reporting rules took effect.
Oct. 24, 2026: Most recent date for state flu and respiratory reporting data.
Nov. 2, 2026: Date of the Miles City flu vaccination clinic still not finalized.

Reporting Shift

The new Montana rules narrow what the state routinely tracks for flu and COVID-19 while requiring automated electronic reporting from commercial labs for flu, RSV, and hepatitis. The change moves public health reporting toward a model focused on severe threats rather than routine case counts.

Residents seeking flu protection can get vaccinated at One Health in Miles City, open 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at 601 Main St., or at Albertsons pharmacy. Because routine COVID-19 cases are no longer tracked, individuals should rely on their own providers for testing and guidance.

The takeaway

Because the state will publish less routine case data, checking with local providers and pharmacies is the most reliable way to learn about flu and COVID-19 activity in your area. Getting a flu vaccine before peak season remains the most practical step for protection.