Respiratory illnesses are continuing to spread rapidly across the United States, affecting millions. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that overall respiratory activity, including flu, COVID-19, and RSV, remains at “high” levels nationwide. This surge is leading many Americans to seek medical care at elevated rates.
As of January 17, Hawaii and New Hampshire are experiencing “very high” respiratory activity, while 15 other states report “high” levels. The CDC notes that although some signs may indicate a decrease or stabilization in illness levels, this could be due to reporting delays during the holiday season or changes in healthcare-seeking behavior. The agency warns that the respiratory virus activity is not over and expects it to continue for several more weeks.
Dr. John Brownstein, an epidemiologist at Boston Children’s Hospital, noted that this respiratory season is the first to resemble trends seen before the pandemic. He pointed out that previous seasons like this have often experienced secondary peaks in activity weeks later.
The CDC also reports that flu activity is elevated across the country, while COVID-19 cases have risen. However, RSV activity has peaked in many areas. So far this season, there have been at least 12 million flu cases, 160,000 hospitalizations, and 6,600 deaths, with 27 pediatric flu deaths reported. Emergency room visits and hospitalizations for flu are currently the highest, followed closely by COVID-19 and RSV.
Hospitalization rates for individuals over 65 are highest for flu and COVID-19, while RSV is causing the most hospitalizations in children under 4. Children under 18 are primarily affected by both RSV and flu, with emergency room visits driven by these illnesses.
The death rates for COVID-19 remain the highest at 1.4%, followed by flu at 1.2%, and RSV at 0.1%.
Vaccines for flu, COVID-19, and RSV are available, but coverage remains low. As of January 4, only 43.4% of adults had received a flu vaccine, and 22.8% had received the updated COVID-19 vaccine. Among adults aged 75 and older, 44.5% have received the RSV vaccine.
Dr. Brownstein emphasized that it is not too late to get vaccinated. He stressed that vaccination remains an essential tool in reducing severe illness and the spread of these viruses, especially during peak periods.
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