The CDC is reporting high levels of respiratory virus activity across the U.S. While respiratory syncytial virus levels are beginning to peak in many areas of the country, flu-related emergency department visits are at very high levels and are still rising, according to the latest data.
Thirteen states are experiencing "high" respiratory virus activity: Texas, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Minnesota, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New York, Connecticut, Hawaii and Washington, D.C.
Three states are experiencing "very high" levels: New Hampshire, New Jersey and Wisconsin.
Four more updates:
- Test positivity rates for the flu have increased to 25% while COVID-19 remained steady at 6.2% and RSV positivity decreased slightly to 8.8%.
- ED visits for influenza and RSV remain elevated, with COVID-19-related visits increasing since the fall. Influenza-related ED visits continue to increase, accounting for 5.4% of all visits for the week ending Jan. 18 and up from 4.9% the previous week. In comparison, COVID-19 accounted for 0.9% of ED visits and RSV for 0.6%.
- Wastewater surveillance showed high levels of both COVID-19 and influenza A, indicating widespread activity, while RSV levels are moderate.
- The CDC forecasts that influenza-related ED visits will remain high over the coming weeks, while COVID-19 and RSV activity are expected to dip slightly. Overall, respiratory illness activity is expected to remain elevated.
- Vaccination coverage maintains a concern, with both COVID-19 and influenza vaccination rates lower than desired and RSV vaccines seeing a particularly low uptake among children and adults, according to the CDC.