Weekly Viral Respiratory Illness Snapshot

Reported on Friday, December 1st, 2023.

Note: data summaries are based on CDC subject matter expert interpretation of publicly available findings across multiple data systems, some of which are not included in the data visualizations on these web pages.

The amount of respiratory illness (fever plus cough or sore throat) causing people to seek healthcare is increasing across most areas of the country. 

The U.S. is experiencing elevated RSV activity, particularly among young children. After a period of limited change, COVID-19 activity is increasing again especially in the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions. Influenza activity continues to increase in most of the country. Hospital bed occupancy for all patients, including within intensive care units, remains stable nationally; however, pediatric inpatient bed occupancy has been increasing. Vaccines are available and can help protect people from the most serious health effects of fall and winter viruses.

• COVID-19 test positivity (percentage of tests conducted that were positive), emergency department visits, and hospitalizations have increased nationally. A group of Omicron variants (XBB and its sublineages) are the predominant lineages detected in the U.S., with HV.1 being most common. The prevalence of another lineage, BA.2.86, is projected to account for 5-15% of currently circulating variants. CDC continues to monitor HV.1, BA.2.86, and all other lineages.
• National test positivity, emergency department visits, and hospitalizations for influenza continue to increase.
• RSV emergency department visits and hospitalizations continue to increase across the country. RSV-associated hospitalization rates remain elevated among young children and are increasing among older adults; of note, only 14.8% of adults 60+ report having received an RSV vaccine.
• National vaccination coverage for COVID-19, influenza, and RSV vaccines increased less than one percentage point for children and adults, where indicated, compared to the previous week and remains low for both groups.
• CDC has been monitoring increases in respiratory illness reported recently among children, including potential elevated rates of pediatric pneumonia in parts of the United States. These reported increases do not appear to be due to a new virus or other pathogen but to several viral or bacterial causes that we expect to see during the respiratory illness season. CDC will continue to work closely with our state and local public health partners to maintain strong situational awareness and will provide updates, as needed.