Respiratory viruses continue to spread across the US, with cases of flu, COVID-19, and RSV remaining high. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has listed overall respiratory illness activity as “high” nationwide, with people seeking healthcare services at a high level.
As of January 17, two states (Hawaii and New Hampshire) have “very high” activity, while 15 others are at “high” levels. The CDC notes that some indicators suggest decreased or stable activity, but this may be due to reporting delays over the winter holidays. It’s not a sign that respiratory virus activity has peaked; it’s expected to continue for several more weeks.
Seasonal flu activity is elevated across the country, with COVID-19 activity increasing. However, RSV activity has peaked in many areas of the US. The CDC reports at least 12 million flu illnesses, 160,000 hospitalizations, and 6,600 deaths so far this season.
Emergency room visits and hospitalizations are highest for flu, followed by COVID-19 and RSV. Vaccination coverage remains low, with only 43.4% of adults vaccinated against the flu and 22.8% vaccinated with the updated 2024-25 COVID-19 vaccine. Nearly half of all children are vaccinated against the flu.
Dr. John Brownstein, an epidemiologist, emphasizes that vaccination is a vital tool in reducing severe illness risk during peak activity. Staying up-to-date on vaccinations can make a significant difference in reducing illness spread and severity.
Source: https://abcnews.go.com/Health/respiratory-virus-activity-remains-high-us-continue-weeks/story?id=117881211