COVID up, RSV down
.webp)
Overall deaths are also increasing, with flu accounting for
1.5% of deaths in the second week of January. Seasonal influenza activity
remains elevated across most of the country, with an 18.8% positivity rate,
according to clinical lab data.
High flu activity expected for several more weeks
Outpatient visits for flu are trending down, but the CDC
said this is not likely an indication that the flu season has peaked.
"Although some indicators have decreased or remained
stable this week compared to last, this could be due to changes in healthcare
seeking behavior or reporting during the holidays rather than an indication
that influenza activity has peaked," the CDC said. "The country is
still experiencing elevated influenza activity, and that is expected to
continue for several more weeks."
The CDC estimates that there have been at least 12 million
illnesses, 160,000 hospitalizations, and 6,600 deaths from flu so far this
season.
Influenza A H1N1 and H3N2 are still the dominant strains
this season, representing 43.1% and 56.8% of typed samples, respectively, from
public health laboratories last week.
COVID-19 activity rising while RSV slows
In
updates on the common respiratory illnesses of respiratory
syncytial virus (RSV) infection, flu, and COVID-19, the CDC said COVID-19
activity has increased in most areas of the country, while RSV activity has
peaked in many regions.
Overall respiratory viral illness activity is high in the
United States, with emergency department (ED) visits for all three diseases
increasing. ED visits for COVID-19 are still low, while flu and RSV are
classified as high.
Wastewater detections are high for COVID-19 and influenza,
but now moderate for RSV. Genomic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2
variants shows XEC accounted for 43% of COVID-19 cases,
with LP.8.1 accounting for 15%, and KP.3.1.1 accounting for 14%.
Wastewater
detections for COVID-19 viruses are highest in the upper
Midwest, including Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Missouri, and the Northeast,
including Maine, Massachusetts, Vermont, and New Hampshire.
COVID predictions for the next two weeks suggest that
emergency department visits will remain at a lower level compared to prior
winter seasons
"COVID predictions for the next two weeks suggest that
emergency department visits will remain at a lower level compared to prior
winter seasons," the CDC said. "Influenza predictions suggest that
emergency department visits will remain at a high to very high level for the
next two weeks."
