China Flu Cases Surge to Highest Level Since 2022
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The pediatric outpatient department at Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University in Beijing on November 30, 2025. Photo: Visual China Group
Influenza cases across the Chinese mainland have surged to their highest seasonal levels since 2022, with almost half of all tests returning positive in late November as health officials warn the national outbreak will likely peak within weeks.
The aggressive spread of the virus has prompted several provinces to raise their risk alerts to the highest level, though data emerging from Beijing suggests the capital may have already passed the worst of the wave.
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- Influenza cases in mainland China have reached record seasonal highs since 2022, with a 47.8% positivity rate and 1,541 outbreaks reported from Nov. 24–30, 2025.
- The outbreak is most severe in southern and southwestern regions; 2,971 of 4,780 outbreaks occurred in the south, with 2,082 in the southwest.
- Authorities raised risk alerts, and vaccination in Beijing increased by 9.7% year-on-year, with 2.244 million doses administered since September.
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What Happened When
- Since September 2025：
- Beijing administered 2.244 million doses of the flu vaccine, marking a 9.7% year-on-year increase.
- Late November 2025：
- Influenza cases across the Chinese mainland reached the highest seasonal levels since 2022, with almost half of all tests returning positive.
- Nov. 24, 2025 - Nov. 30, 2025：
- 1,541 influenza outbreaks were reported in China, an increase of 307 from the previous week; the positivity rate for flu tests climbed to 47.8%.
- Nov. 26, 2025：
- Health authorities in Anhui province raised their influenza risk alert to the highest level.
- By the end of November 2025：
- From late March 2025 through the end of November 2025, China reported 4,780 influenza outbreaks nationwide; the southwest region emerged as the primary hotspot.
- Dec. 2, 2025：
- Health authorities in Hunan province raised their influenza risk warning to the highest level.
- Dec. 2, 2025：
- Wang Dayan announced that 17 provinces had reached 'high epidemic levels' for influenza.
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