Half of US States Grapple with High Levels of Respiratory Virus Activity: What You Should Know

New data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reveals that half of all states in the United States are currently experiencing high levels of respiratory virus activity. This significant finding underscores the extensive impact of respiratory viruses across the nation.

The Current State of Respiratory Virus Activity

The CDC's online dashboard provides real-time updates on the activity levels of respiratory viruses, including COVID-19, influenza, and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). It offers an in-depth examination of the level of respiratory illness activity, emergency department visits for viral respiratory illness, the percentage of tests positive for respiratory viruses, and COVID-19 wastewater trends.

Interestingly, wastewater can be a valuable source of information in the fight against infectious diseases. By testing wastewater, researchers can detect circulating infectious diseases in a community, providing an early warning of increasing or decreasing infection levels.

The Influx of Seasonal Influenza and Decreasing COVID-19 Activity

While seasonal influenza activity is increasing in some parts of the country, the activity of COVID-19 and RSV is decreasing in many areas. However, hospital bed occupancy remains stable on a national scale. The CDC's snapshot reveals that vaccination coverage for COVID-19, influenza, and RSV is worryingly low for both children and adults. This trend is a concern and highlights the need for continued public health efforts to encourage vaccination.

The Trend of Respiratory Virus Activity

After a surge in late December, respiratory virus activity has been on a decline but remains elevated. The rates of hospitalization and mortality for COVID-19, flu, and RSV are lower than they were in the previous season. The CDC is closely monitoring this activity through the National Healthcare Safety Network and the Respiratory Virus Hospitalization Surveillance Network.

The Ongoing Efforts by the CDC

The CDC is vigilantly tracking the activity of respiratory viruses, including flu, COVID-19, and RSV. They are also closely monitoring the emergence of new SARS-CoV-2 variants and assessing the effectiveness of updated COVID-19 vaccines. Their continuous study of the impacts of COVID-19 and flu illness plays a pivotal role in guiding public health responses.

High Respiratory Virus Activity: The Numbers

Despite some positive trends, respiratory virus activity remains high in the United States. Key measures of respiratory virus activity have been decreasing for several weeks, with hospitalization rates for flu and COVID-19 showing a downward trajectory. However, the US is still grappling with high COVID-19 viral levels in wastewater, thousands of hospitalizations, and a significant number of deaths.

Medical visits for respiratory illnesses have been consistently above baseline since November. Nearly 5% of all outpatient visits in early February were for influenza-like illness. Half of U.S. states reported high or very high respiratory virus activity during the week ending on Feb. 10. While COVID-19 infections are probably growing in a dozen states, flu infections are growing in nine states.

Prevention and Protection Against Respiratory Viruses

The CDC emphasizes the importance of prevention measures such as vaccination, especially for individuals at increased risk of severe disease. Other recommended actions to protect against respiratory viruses include masking, physical distancing, handwashing, and early testing in the course of an illness. With these combined efforts, we can hope to limit the spread and impacts of these respiratory viruses in our communities.