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Influenza A, COVID-19 and norovirus (stomach flu) are on the rise, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But there’s a fourth “bug” the public should be aware of: respiratory syncytial virus. RSV causes cold-like symptoms and affects the breathing passages and lungs.
Wastewater levels of RSV are “moderate” nationwide for the week ending Dec. 28, according to the CDC’s wastewater monitoring systems. Wastewater levels of RSV rose to moderate in mid-December – the first time it reached moderate since January 2024. Since then, RSV levels in wastewater had been “minimal” or “low,” according to the CDC.
Respiratory viruses can spread quickly in winter months, as more people spend time inside. Colder temperatures can weaken your immune system, and colder, drier air can help respiratory viruses thrive, experts say.
Wastewater maps show where levels of COVID, flu and RSV are high
Wastewater testing is intended to act as an early warning system for public health professionals, allowing them to prevent outbreaks.
Even in cases when a community’s residents are not showing symptoms, it is possible to test wastewater, or sewage, for the presence of infectious diseases. The data from the CDC can detect possible changes in the levels of illnesses in your state.
Is it the flu, COVID, a cold or something else?
Respiratory viruses, like the common cold, have similar symptoms to COVID-19 and the flu. It can be difficult to know the exact cause behind a cough and sneeze or fever, without getting tested.
Symptoms of COVID-19 can show up later than a cold or the flu, according to the Mayo Clinic. A fever is rare, and muscle aches and fatigue don’t happen with a cold.
A headache is also common with flu and COVID-19, but it’s not typical with a cold. A dry cough is more common with COVID-19 than flu.
Flu hospitalization rates are on the rise
During the 2023-2024 flu season, the flu led to 470,000 hospitalizations and 28,000 deaths. So far this season, there have been at least 5.3 million illnesses, 63,000 hospitalizations and 2,700 deaths from the flu.
Dr. Eduardo Azziz-Baumgartner, a medical epidemiologist in the CDC’s Influenza Division, previously told USA TODAY that an important step to combatting the spread of the flu is to get vaccinated. Full protection takes a couple of weeks to kick in, but it has benefits in preventing serious illness, he said.
“The flu season still has weeks to go, so they will still get protection from the flu shot if they get it soon,” Azziz-Baumgartner told USA TODAY last month.