Your cart is currently empty!
Where are flu rates rising? See maps
Cold and flu season is in full swing as four major respiratory viruses circulate the country. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, at least 15 states have “very high” levels of the flu.
Wastewater levels of influenza are high nationwide for the week ending Jan 4, the CDC’s wastewater monitoring systems reported.
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 flu, COVID 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.
Unable to view our graphics? Click here to see them.
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.
Here are some signs to tell the differences in respiratory virus symptoms:
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.
This story was updated to add new information.
As flu season ramps up, many are wondering where exactly flu rates are on the rise. To get a clear picture, let’s take a look at some maps tracking flu activity across the United States.
According to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), flu activity is currently elevated in several states in the southern and western regions of the country. States such as Texas, California, Arizona, and Florida are experiencing higher than average flu activity.
In addition, some areas within these states are reporting even higher levels of flu activity. For example, cities like Houston, Los Angeles, and Phoenix are seeing a significant increase in flu cases.
It’s important to stay informed and take necessary precautions to protect yourself and others during flu season. Make sure to wash your hands frequently, cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, and get vaccinated if you haven’t already.
Stay safe and stay healthy this flu season!
Tags:
- flu rates
- rising flu rates
- flu maps
- flu trends
- flu outbreaks
- flu hotspots
- flu statistics
- flu cases
- influenza rates
- flu tracking
#flu #rates #rising #maps
Leave a Reply