The percentage of people visiting the hospital for respiratory illness continues to grow in Alabama.

According to the Alabama Department of Public Health, the percentage of emergency department visits reporting symptoms of a respiratory virus last week in Alabama was 5.89%, up 4% from the previous week. The majority of the visits – 3.42% – reported flu-like illness, followed by Respiratory Syncytial Virus, or RSV, at 1.5% and COVID at .97%.

READ MORE: What is phishing and smishing? IRS issues warning

Nationally, Alabama is one of 11 states reporting high levels of flu. The highest levels were in Louisiana and South Carolina, which were classified as having “very high” levels of flu-like illness, followed by “high” levels in Alabama, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, New Mexico, Puerto Rico, Tennessee and Texas.

Flu season appears to have arrived early this year. At this point in 2022, flu levels were minimal in every state, according to tracking by the Centers for Disease Control. This year, activity is increasing in almost every part of the country, most notably the southeast, southcentral, mountain and west coast regions.

The CDC estimates there have been at least 1.8 million flu cases this year with 17,000 hospitalizations and 1,100 deaths, including 8 pediatric deaths. Five of those pediatric deaths were reported for the week ending Nov. 25.

CDC recommends everyone 6 months and older get an annual flu vaccine. There are also prescription flu antiviral medications that can be used to treat flu, but they should be started as early as possible, the CDC said.