Tulsa health brief: CDC flu update, drought-driven fire risk, and St. John nursing scholarships

ByWeence

Tulsa, OK – March 3, 2026 – Flu remains elevated nationwide, while drought-driven fire risk persists and local nursing scholarships open this week.

Tulsa-area clinics and hospitals are still navigating late-winter respiratory season, while dry conditions keep wildfire and smoke concerns on the radar across eastern Oklahoma. Here are several updates that affect Tulsa residents this week.

Outbreak watch: CDC says flu activity remains elevated

The CDC’s latest FluView surveillance update (Week 7, ending Feb. 21, 2026) reports that seasonal influenza activity remains elevated nationally. The CDC noted influenza A is decreasing while influenza B is increasing across most areas, a shift that can matter for timing and strain mix as the season continues.

The same update includes a midseason severity assessment that classifies the season as moderate overall, while listing pediatric severity as high at this point in the season. The CDC also reported additional influenza-associated pediatric deaths this season in its latest update.

Separately, the CDC’s influenza hospitalization forecasting update posted Feb. 27 indicates the week’s ensemble forecast expects new weekly laboratory-confirmed flu hospital admissions will likely decrease nationally, with uncertainty around the size of that decline.

Public health and access: drought and fire-weather conditions continue

A Southern Plains drought status update posted Feb. 26 highlights significant drought challenges across Texas and Oklahoma, affecting water supplies and increasing wildfire risk. The update notes that severe to extreme drought in parts of central and eastern Oklahoma has prompted county-wide burn bans, including Tulsa County.

In a hazardous weather outlook issued by the National Weather Service office in Tulsa on Feb. 26, forecasters said warm temperatures, low afternoon humidity and breezy winds could create limited fire-weather concerns across eastern Oklahoma. Even smaller grassfires can create localized smoke and travel disruptions that complicate commutes to clinics, pharmacies and hospitals.

Healthcare workforce: Ascension St. John Foundation nursing scholarships open March 2

The Ascension St. John Foundation says applications for its 2026 nursing scholarships are open March 2 through April 30. The foundation lists $100,000 in total scholarships this year, with individual awards ranging from $1,000 to $5,000, aimed at supporting associates and community nursing students in accredited programs.

Sources

https://www.cdc.gov/fluview/surveillance/2026-week-07.html
https://www.cdc.gov/flu-forecasting/data-vis/02182026-flu-forecasts.html
https://www.drought.gov/drought-status-updates/drought-status-update-southern-plains-2026-02-26
https://www.weather.gov/tsa/ehwo
https://www.givestjohn.org/nurse-scholarships

If you have urgent symptoms, seek medical care. For general questions, talk with a licensed clinician.

Brian 'Weence' Bateman is a seasoned medical and health writer with over a decade of experience in web development, search optimization, and social media for dentists and healthcare providers. His in-depth knowledge and dedication to the field are evident in the meticulously researched and informative content he produces.

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