How bad are flu, COVID-19 and RSV? These charts show how respiratory viruses are spreading in the US

The 2023-24 respiratory virus season is ebbing as viral activity from flu, COVID-19 and RSV falls across most of the U.S.

Here’s the situation in four charts:

How active are the respiratory viruses?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention gauges activity by tracking doctor visits that involve a patient showing flu-like symptoms. Last week, those made up 2.5% of all visits, or about 1 visit in every 40.

Where is activity highest?

Respiratory illness activity is highest in the central U.S. and New England. North Dakota and Wyoming are the only states experiencing high activity levels.

Which virus is most prevalent?

The rate at which tests come back positive for each virus can suggest which ones are most responsible for general respiratory illness activity. Results are delayed for this CDC dataset, but flu has had the highest positivity rate since mid-December.

Hospital admissions

Hospitalizations can give an idea of the danger associated with each virus. COVID-19 is hospitalizing people at a rate of 1.9 per 100,000, the highest rate among the three viruses. Rates for all three viruses are declining.

Takeaway

While activity levels are still elevated in a few places, decreasing trends across each of the key metrics suggest the season is waning.

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The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.