CDC Alerts: Increase in Respiratory Virus-Related Illnesses Across the U.S.

December 23, 2024 TruthUSA

The CDC reports that RSV, flu, and COVID-19 activities are currently at moderate levels nationwide.

Health officials in the U.S. have alerted the public that respiratory virus activity is increasing, with overall trends showing moderate levels of activity throughout the country.

According to the latest update from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on December 20, influenza cases have risen approximately 5.1 percent compared to the previous week.

In a notice released on December 20, the CDC indicated that “emergency department visits with diagnosed RSV are high,” although hospital visits for influenza and COVID-19 remain low across the nation. However, it was noted that influenza cases are beginning to rise in about a dozen states.

A data-driven map shared by the CDC reveals that most states are currently experiencing moderate levels of respiratory infections. Three states—Louisiana, New Hampshire, and Tennessee—are reporting high levels of infections, as indicated by the map.

Throughout the U.S., the test positivity rates have increased, with influenza at 9 percent, COVID-19 slightly rising to 5.6 percent, and RSV positivity at 9.5 percent, the CDC reported.

Additionally, the agency noted that seasonal flu activity is on the rise, while predicting an uptick in COVID-19 cases in the near future.

CDC researcher Alicia Budd stated on December 20 that the flu virus has been “increasing at a consistent pace for the past few weeks,” emphasizing we are indeed in flu season now.

Last week, thirteen states reported high or very high levels of flu-like illness, which is approximately double the figure from the previous week. Tennessee is among those states, experiencing a notable spike in illnesses in the Nashville area, as pointed out by Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious diseases expert at Vanderbilt University.

Dr. Schaffner remarked, “The flu has been increasing, but it has truly surged this last week.” He added that in one local clinic, which serves as a barometer for illness trends, about 25 percent of patients present flu-like symptoms.

As of December 10, the CDC indicated that flu virus infections are “growing or likely growing” in 39 states, with no states reporting a decline and two showing stable rates, according to their findings.

Nonetheless, the latest data from the CDC shows a decline in COVID-19 hospitalizations since summer. While COVID-19 activity is considered moderate nationally, it is reported as high in the Midwest, as per CDC wastewater monitoring.

The CDC emphasized that “COVID-19 activity is beginning to rise from previously low levels in some regions of the nation,” while pointing out that emergency visits and hospitalizations remain low.

Overall, RSV activity is moderate nationwide and is “continuing to increase in most parts of the United States, particularly among young children,” according to the agency.

The CDC determined the onset of flu season using several indicators, including lab results from hospital and clinic patients and the percentage of emergency department visits resulting in flu diagnoses.

Currently, no specific flu strain appears to dominate, and it remains early in the season to assess the effectiveness of the flu vaccine, Budd noted.

On December 20, the CDC issued its forecast for the 2024-2025 respiratory virus season, predicting “a similar or lower combined peak hospitalization rate due to COVID-19, influenza, and RSV compared to last season.”

This report was contributed by The Associated Press.

Source link