CDC Says Covid-19 And Flu Rates Are Rising Across The US 

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Americans are experiencing a rise in respiratory illnesses such as Covid-19 and the flu. 

The CDC made the announcement last week, stating that both Covid-19 and seasonal influenza activity is rising from low levels in most areas around  the country. 

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Ever since the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, the rates of infection have always increased around the winter time during flu season. 

In 2024, between December 21st and December 28th, Covid-19 positivity rates increased from 7% to 7.1% while influenza’s test positivity rates increased from 12% to 18.7%. 

The CDC also stated that the positivity rates for RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) is currently very high around the US, specifically in young children. 

The Center also stated that emergency department visits and hospitalization rates are currently highest for children with rates for older adults increasing in some areas of the US as well. 

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Despite these high and increasing rates, vaccination coverage for Covid-19, influenza, and RSV are low among adults and children. 

The CDC is expecting the winter virus season to “have a similar or lower peak number of combined hospitalizations from Covid-19, influenza and RSV compared with last year. However, the peak hospitalization rates from all respiratory viruses remain likely to be much higher than they were before the Covid-19 pandemic.” 

They recommend everyone get their seasonal flue vaccine as well as the 2024-25 Covid-19 vaccine for individuals 6 months or older. As always, they emphasized that older adults who are immunocompromised or at increased risk for severe disease should especially stay on top of their vaccines. 

The agency also is recommending that adults who are 75 years or older, 60 to 74 year old adults with health conditions, and those who reside in nursing homes should make sure to get their RSV vaccine.