https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/covid-19/us-respiratory-disease-markers-remain-high-flu-covid-rsv
US respiratory disease markers remain high for flu, COVID, RSV
Lisa Schnirring
29 minutes ago.
COVID-19
Influenza, General
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)
For the most recent flu reporting week, some markers remained stable or decreased, which the CDC said could reflect changes in health-seeking behaviors over the holidays rather than that the seasonal peak has passed. Test positivity at clinical labs remained stable, while the percentage of outpatient clinic visits for flulike illness dropped from 6.8% to 6.1% compared to the previous week. Meanwhile, test positivity for COVID is stable but is on the rise for RSV.
Forty-three states are reporting very high or high flu activity, and of respiratory samples that tested positive for flu at public health labs, nearly 98% were influenza A. Of subtyped samples, 55.5% were H3N2, and 44.5% were 2009 H1N1.
Hospitalization rates are on an upward trend for all three viruses, with the highest levels for flu. COVID hospitalizations continue to rise from a low level.
Six more pediatric flu deaths
Six more pediatric flu deaths were reported to the CDC, raising the season’s total to 17. Four were due to influenza A (three H1N1 and one H3N2), and two were linked to influenza B. The CDC also reported the flu death of one more child from the 2023-2024 flu season, putting that total at 207.
For COVID, the CDC’s latest wastewater tracking shows that levels are increasing in all regions, remaining the highest in the Midwest, followed by the Northeast and the South.
Along with hospitalizations, emergency department (ED) visits for COVID are rising and are highest in seniors, with ED visits also elevated in young children, similar to the current pattern for RSV.
Among other severity indicators, deaths from all three viruses are at 1.5% of overall deaths, with the level highest for COVID and an upward trend for flu over the past week. Deaths from COVID remain highest among seniors.
US respiratory disease markers remain high for flu, COVID, RSV
Lisa Schnirring
29 minutes ago.
COVID-19
Influenza, General
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)
Respiratory virus activity across the nation remains high, with COVID-19 levels rising across much of the country, flu indicators still elevated, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) activity very high in many regions, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said in its latest illness updates.For the most recent flu reporting week, some markers remained stable or decreased, which the CDC said could reflect changes in health-seeking behaviors over the holidays rather than that the seasonal peak has passed. Test positivity at clinical labs remained stable, while the percentage of outpatient clinic visits for flulike illness dropped from 6.8% to 6.1% compared to the previous week. Meanwhile, test positivity for COVID is stable but is on the rise for RSV.
Forty-three states are reporting very high or high flu activity, and of respiratory samples that tested positive for flu at public health labs, nearly 98% were influenza A. Of subtyped samples, 55.5% were H3N2, and 44.5% were 2009 H1N1.
Hospitalization rates are on an upward trend for all three viruses, with the highest levels for flu. COVID hospitalizations continue to rise from a low level.
Six more pediatric flu deaths
Six more pediatric flu deaths were reported to the CDC, raising the season’s total to 17. Four were due to influenza A (three H1N1 and one H3N2), and two were linked to influenza B. The CDC also reported the flu death of one more child from the 2023-2024 flu season, putting that total at 207.
For COVID, the CDC’s latest wastewater tracking shows that levels are increasing in all regions, remaining the highest in the Midwest, followed by the Northeast and the South.
Along with hospitalizations, emergency department (ED) visits for COVID are rising and are highest in seniors, with ED visits also elevated in young children, similar to the current pattern for RSV.
Among other severity indicators, deaths from all three viruses are at 1.5% of overall deaths, with the level highest for COVID and an upward trend for flu over the past week. Deaths from COVID remain highest among seniors.