According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), cases of Influenza A, COVID-19, and norovirus (commonly known as stomach flu) are increasing. Additionally, another virus to watch out for is respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), which can cause symptoms similar to colds and impact the respiratory system and lungs.

The CDC’s wastewater monitoring indicates that RSV levels are currently “moderate” across the country for the week ending December 28. This marks the first time since January 2024 that RSV has reached moderate levels, after previously being categorized as “minimal” or “low” for a period.

Winter months often see rapid transmission of respiratory viruses, partly because people tend to stay indoors. Experts suggest that the colder temperatures may weaken immune responses, while dry, cold air creates conditions favorable for these viruses.

Wastewater maps indicate high levels of COVID, flu, and RSV

Testing wastewater serves as a proactive approach for public health authorities, helping them to identify potential outbreaks early.

Even if residents of a community aren’t showing any symptoms, wastewater can still be tested for traces of infectious diseases. The data gathered by the CDC can provide insights into fluctuations in illness levels within each state.

Is it the flu, COVID, a cold, or something else?

Many respiratory viruses, including the common cold, share symptoms with COVID-19 and influenza, making it challenging to determine the root cause of a cough, sneeze, or fever without proper testing.

The Mayo Clinic notes that COVID-19 symptoms may appear later than those of a cold or flu. Fever is uncommon with colds, and symptoms like muscle aches and fatigue are typically absent. While headaches are frequent in both flu and COVID-19 cases, they aren’t usually associated with colds. Additionally, a dry cough is more prevalent in COVID-19 than in the flu.

Here are some key differences to help differentiate the symptoms of respiratory viruses:

Flu hospitalization rates are increasing

During the flu season of 2023-2024, the flu resulted in 470,000 hospitalizations and 28,000 deaths. So far this season, there have been over 5.3 million flu-related illnesses, 63,000 hospitalizations, and 2,700 deaths.

Dr. Eduardo Azziz-Baumgartner, a medical expert in the CDC’s Influenza Division, emphasized the importance of vaccination to help curb the flu’s spread. Full immunity takes a few weeks to develop, but it significantly reduces the risk of severe illness.

“The flu season will continue for several weeks, so individuals will still benefit from the vaccine if they receive it soon,” Dr. Azziz-Baumgartner told YSL News last month.