The flu's popular?!?! Huh?

A few weeks ago, I heard a Japanese English speaker say:

Recently, the flu's popular.

I was like,

HUH??? What are you talking about?

Popular means 人気 (にんき), a lot of people like or want something. It this case you should use the word, common. Meaning, many people have it. Common in Japanese would be: ざらにある or ざらにいる.

So the next time you want to talk about many people having the flu these days please say:

Recently, the flu's quite common.

Or if you'd like to sound more casual you could say:

Recently, the flu's going around.

We often use the expression going around to talk about the flu or a cold that seems to be moving between lots of people. Tom has it, then Mary has it, then Bob, then Jill, etc.

Have a nice Sunday,

Phil