Flu levels remain elevated as COVID-19 and RSV drop

According to CDC, ED visits related to COVID-19 dropped 21.2% for the week ending March 2 compared to the previous week. Similarly, COVID-19 hospitalizations dropped 13.6% compared to the previous week. However, rates of COVID-19 deaths were flat week-to-week.

CDC has also found that RSV rates throughout the country are dropping. Six regions in the East, South, and Southwest of the United States are currently below epidemic thresholds, and hospitalizations for RSV have dropped among all age groups.

Compared to COVID-19 and RSV, flu activity is still elevated in many parts of the United States. For the week ending March 2, 18 states reported either "high" or "very high" levels of influenza like illnesses.

Michigan is among those states, reporting "very high" levels of influenza and seeing its first pediatric influenza-associated death of the flu season during the week ending March 2. Nationwide, there were 10 influenza-associated pediatric deaths, for a total of 103 pediatric deaths this flu season.

"We've had seasons that are higher rates of admissions; however we are slightly higher than last year, and influenza certainly is contributing to the admission burden here at Corewell Health both on the east and the west," said Kira Sieplinga, division chief of general pediatrics at the Helen DeVos Children's Hospital.

"Please consider vaccination for your children, it's not too late," Sieplinga added. "The influenza vaccine has been proven to decrease the rates of influenza in communities and also decrease the severity."

CDC also found that 4.1% of visits to a healthcare provider were for a respiratory illness for the week ending March 2, which is down from the week prior but still above the national baseline of 2.9%. In addition, 10,060 patients were admitted to hospitals with influenza, which was not a significant change from the week before.

In total, CDC reports that there have been at least 28 million flu illnesses, 13 million flu medical visits, 310,000 flu hospitalizations, and 20,000 flu deaths this flu season. (Carbajal, Becker's Clinical Leadership, 3/11; Schnirring, CIDRAP News, 3/8; Mackay, The Detroit News, 3/11; CDC 2023-2024 Preliminary In-Season Burden Estimates, accessed 3/12; CDC Weekly U.S. Influenza Surveillance Report, accessed 3/12; CDC COVID-19 Data Tracker, accessed 3/12)

Given the influx of respiratory diseases in the United States, health experts are advising caution. Here are five ways you can keep safe.