A map showing respiratory infection rates in the US shows a “sea of red” – as a virus tripledemic hits the US again this winter.
Thirty-eight states are currently reporting “high” or “very high” levels of flu-like illness, official data shows, while Covid hospitalizations have risen nearly 30 percent in a week.
Cases of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) — a cold-like illness that kills thousands of babies and seniors each year — are still unusually common for the time of year.
And the rise in cases has led hospitals in at least 14 states to reinstate mask requirements for patients, visitors and staff.
The map above shows the incidence of flu-like illnesses by state for the week ending December 30, the most recent available
The map above shows flu-like illnesses by state for the week ending Dec. 23, just before the latest available count
And the above shows flu-like illnesses by state for the week ending December 16, two weeks ahead of the latest available week
Based on the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which collects information from 3,400 hospitals across the country, there were 38 states where levels reached “high” or “very high” levels in the week ending Dec. 30 .
Flu activity rates are high or very high in regions across the country, with only some areas in the Plains and Midwest showing lower levels.
Only one state – Minnesota – has flu rates still minimal.
At this time of year, respiratory illness rates are typically high before infections peak in January and February.
But the previous season, coupled with children's underdeveloped immune systems due to successive lockdowns, raised fears that the U.S. was facing a larger surge.
The CDC reports that visits to a health care provider for a respiratory illness increased seven percent in the week ending December 30, with 20,000 new hospitalizations.
Data showed that 10 million people have been infected with flu so far this season and 110,000 have been hospitalized.
For comparison: At this point in 2019 – before the pandemic – 7 million illnesses and 55,000 hospitalizations were registered.
Estimates suggest there have also been 6,500 total flu deaths, compared to 2,900 at the same time in 2019.
There were 27 child deaths in the cold winter season of 2023-2024.
In total, around 20,000 new admissions of flu sufferers were reported in the week ending December 30, the data shows.
This was a 36 percent increase from 14,700 reports in the previous seven-day period.
The number of Covid hospitalizations is also increasing, increasing by 20 percent in a week to 34,800 in the last seven days.
And there is also evidence that RSV is causing more illness: An estimated 125,000 cases were detected last week – compared to 119,000 the week before.
Dr. Jacob Glanville, a San Francisco-based virologist working on a universal flu vaccine, told that this will be a “tough winter” for viruses.
“We typically see a spike in respiratory viruses after the holidays,” he said.
The above shows the proportion of people hospitalized with flu-like illness by age group. It turns out that children are the largest group
Flu hospitalizations continue to rise, with data suggesting they are already double what they were in the 2019 to 2020 season before the Covid pandemic
RSV infections are also increasing again after the new CDC director Dr. Mandy Cohen has suggested that they have reached their peak
The above shows Covid infections by wastewater. They keep rising
“So far, CDC data shows that Covid-related hospitalizations are not at the same levels as over the past three winters.” However, there remains much uncertainty about how much the current surge may peak.
“Everyone should be careful to wash their hands, cover their coughs and stay up to date on their vaccinations.”
With infection rates rising, hospitals across the U.S. are now beginning to reinstate mask requirements to curb the spread of infections.
Last week, hospitals in four states — New York, California, Illinois and Massachusetts — became the latest to bring back staff, patient and visitor mandates.
There is limited evidence that masks help prevent the spread of infection, but hospitals use them because staff are likely to show up to work sick – increasing the risk of virus spread.
On Friday evening, the city of St. Louis became the first city this season to reinstate a mask requirement for non-healthcare workers – saying its 3,000 employees would now be required to wear the coverings indoors.
“With winter virus activity increasing so quickly, we must take steps to slow transmission and prevent strain on our hospital system,” the city’s health department said.
However, later that day they changed course and stated that they now “strongly recommend” face masks.
Republican lawmakers in the state said the about-face was achieved after Gov. Mike Parson intervened.
A spokesman for the governor said, “Governor Parson has been true to his word.” A conversation was held with the St. Louis mayor's office and a new directive was issued that rescinds the previous mask mandate.
Which countries have high or very high levels of respiratory viruses?
States with “very high” levels of flu-like illness:
- New Mexico
- Louisiana
- Mississippi
- Alabama
- Georgia
- Tennessee
- South Carolina
- North Carolina
- New Jersey
- Virginia
- Colorado
- Massachusetts
- Maryland
- Ohio
- Kentucky
- Arkansas
- Texas
- Wyoming
- Idaho
- Nevada
- California
States with “high” numbers of flu-like illnesses:
- Washington
- Montana
- North Dakota
- Arizona
- Michigan
- Indiana
- Illinois
- Florida
- Pennsylvania
- new York
- Connecticut
- New Hampshire
- Rhode Island
- Wisconsin
- Utah
- Maine
- Kansas