FARGO (KFGO/KVRR) — Statewide, North Dakota has seen a 47% increase in 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, 15% 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.
Influenza cases have risen each year since 2021. From 2021 to 2022, there were 10,610 cases. From 2024 to 2025 there were 11,925 cases. As of Wednesday, there were 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 traveling 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.
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