The CDC on Oct. 4 released a new "community snapshot" feature to track respiratory virus activity across the country.
On the page, users can see how virus activity levels are trending by state or by county. The community snapshot feature measures how frequently respiratory virus symptoms and conditions are diagnosed in emergency departments. It's broadly defined to capture COVID-19, influenza, respiratory syncytial virus and other respiratory infections.
CDC officials told CBS News the community snapshot aims to provide a simple way for a wide range of users to get a sense of whether respiratory illnesses are increasing or decreasing, and to serve as a guide for individuals considering when to take preventive measures such as masking.
"We have a continuum of users, from the public health practitioner to my parents, providing feedback on how they're using it," Matthew Ritchey, DPT, told the news outlet. "More often, the feedback we get is, 'hey, I use this to help inform how I work, or talk with my elderly parents.'"
The website will continue to be updated based on feedback. Later this fall, the snapshot will begin to reflect hospitalization trends. In May, hospitals were no longer required to report COVID admissions or capacity data, though the CDC encouraged reporting on a voluntary basis. But a new CMS rule will take effect in November that resumes the requirement.
"As that data starts to come in again and gets to a robust enough level, the plan is that it would be incorporated on the site as well," Dr. Ritchey said.
Three more virus updates:
- Overall, the amount of acute respiratory illness in the U.S. is low. COVID-19 activity is falling in most areas. However, ED visits for flu and RSV are beginning to increase, according to the CDC's latest update.
- A new COVID variant, XEC, is gaining traction in the U.S. and is estimated to account for up to 13% of cases. The strain is a recombinant of two JN.1 lineage viruses, with new COVID shots expected to offer protection against the variant, the agency said.
- Data from a new CDC report suggests this year's flu shot may be less effective against hospitalization than past seasons. The study is based on data from countries in the Southern Hemisphere, which officials often look to as a preview of what may be in store for flu season in the U.S. It found vaccine effectiveness was 34.5% against hospitalization among high-risk groups. Last year, vaccine effectiveness in South America was 51.9% effective against hospitalization.