Flu activity remains high across most of the country, with increases reported in half of HHS regions. Meanwhile, key metrics for COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus continue to trend down.
For the week ending Feb. 17, the Northeast, New England, Mid-Atlantic, Midwest and Central regions all saw increases in flu activity. Admissions stayed about the same as the week prior, with 10,480 lab-confirmed flu patients hospitalized. Earlier this month, the CDC said that while respiratory virus season is likely past its peak, it anticipates the nation could see a second wave of flu and "many more weeks" of disease circulation.
In the same week, COVID-19 admissions fell about 6%. RSV hospitalization rates for young children and older adults are also decreasing, the CDC said. There were 122,831 combined emergency department visits for the three respiratory viruses, marking the sixth straight week of decreases. Flu visits (74,348) accounted for most of the ED visits.
A total of 25 states reported high levels of virus activity — a reflection of the weekly percentage of outpatient or ED visits for fever and cough or sore throat — for the week ending Feb. 17, including five that reported "very high" levels: Arkansas, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma and Wyoming. Washington, D.C., and New York City also reported very high levels.
Twenty states reported high levels: Alabama, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia.
Virus activity levels reflect "how the percentage in the most recent week compares to what the jurisdiction typically experiences during low circulation periods," according to the CDC. There are 13 activity levels, with levels 11 through 13 representing "very high" activity. Those with very high activity in the most recent week reported levels between 11 and 12.