High levels of flu, COVID, and RSV are still being observed in US respiratory disease markers

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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.
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.
Hospitalization rates are on an upward trend for all three viruses, with the highest levels for flu.
Six more pediatric flu deaths Six more pediatric flu deaths were reported to the CDC, raising the season’s total to 17.
The CDC also reported the flu death of one more child from the 2023-2024 flu season, putting that total at 207.

NEGATIVE

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s most recent illness updates, respiratory virus activity is still high nationwide, with COVID-19 levels rising in many areas, flu indicators remaining high, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) activity extremely high in many areas.

Some indicators for the most recent flu reporting week either stayed the same or declined, which the CDC said might be due to shifts in holiday-related health-seeking habits rather than the seasonal peak having passed. While the percentage of outpatient clinic visits for flu-like illness decreased from 6.8 percent to 6.1 percent from the previous week, test positivity at clinical labs stayed constant. In the meantime, RSV test positivity is increasing while COVID test positivity is stable.

Nearly 98% of respiratory samples that tested positive for flu at public health labs were influenza A, and 43 states are reporting very high or high flu activity. Of subtyped samples, 2009 H1N1 accounted for 44.5% and H3N2 for 55.5%.

All three viruses are increasing hospitalization rates, with flu having the highest rates. From a low level, COVID hospitalizations are still increasing.

Six more flu-related deaths in children.

The CDC received reports of six additional pediatric flu deaths, bringing the season’s total to 17. Three were caused by influenza A (three by H1N1 and one by H3N2), while two were caused by influenza B. The CDC also announced that one additional child died from the flu in 2023–2024, bringing the total to 207.

COVID levels are rising across the board, with the Midwest continuing to have the highest levels, followed by the Northeast and the South, according to the CDC’s most recent wastewater tracking data.

Similar to the current trend for RSV, COVID-related ED visits are increasing along with hospitalizations. Seniors have the highest ED visits, while young children also have the highest ED visits.

In terms of other severity indicators, deaths from all three viruses account for 1–5% of all deaths, with COVID having the highest level and flu showing an upward trend over the past week. The COVID-19 virus continues to kill the most elderly people.

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