CDC recently launched a new Respiratory Virus Laboratory Emergency Department Network Surveillance (RESP-LENS) dashboard. This new tool shows emergency department visits for laboratory-confirmed cases of influenza (flu), SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19), and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection. Preparedness planners can use the RESP-LENS dashboard to follow trends and compare activity of these three different pathogens in different age groups and geographic locations. CDC plans to update the data displayed on the RESP-LENS interactive dashboard weekly.
This surveillance system provides timely data on the primary viruses causing acute respiratory illness and how each virus’s activity might vary over time and by age group. The percent positivity metric can be used to follow trends and comparisons of laboratory-confirmed cases of COVID-19, flu, and RSV activity in different age groups and HHS regions across the United States. RESP-LENS serves as a valuable tool for public health and health care professionals, allowing users to visualize and understand trends in virus circulation, estimate disease burden, and respond to outbreaks, informing decisions and strategies for protecting public health.