Respiratory Illness Data Indicate Elevated Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) and COVID-19 Activity

CDC’s Weekly Viral Respiratory Illness Snapshot on November 27 highlights key viral respiratory illness findings for COVID-19, influenza, and RSV from the past week. In addition, two new posts discuss COVID-19 vaccine uptake and the SARS-CoV-2 Variant BA.2.86. The most recent summary of respiratory virus activity levels indicates that the United States is experiencing elevated respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) activity, particularly among young children, and COVID-19 activity remains elevated. RSV test positivity has exceeded COVID-19 test positivity. In addition, influenza activity continues to increase in most of the country, with emergency department use for influenza approaching the level observed for COVID-19.

According to CDC’s November 27 weekly FluView report, flu activity is increasing most noticeably in the South Central, Southeast, Mountain, and West Coast regions. Outpatient respiratory illness is above baseline nationally for the third week and is at or above baseline in seven of 10 HHS Regions. The number of weekly flu hospital admissions continues to increase, and CDC estimates that there have been at least 1.2 million illnesses, 12,000 hospitalizations, and 740 deaths from flu so far this season.