Outbreak Outlook - National - July 14

Summer lull for most bugs, but Covid-19 continues to slowly rise

Respiratory Diseases

Influenza-like illness

This is the off-season for influenza, and rates are very low. All states are reporting minimal activity.

Outpatient visits for influenza-like illness dropped to 1.09%. This is lower than it has been at this point in the year for the past six years!

Rates are down to 3.6% for the youngest age group (0-4 years), and to 1.4% for those 5-24 years of age. All other groups reported outpatients visits <1%.

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COVID-19

Covid-19 activity keeps inching up but remains low in most areas of the country. Nationally, Covid-19 accounts for just 0.4% of all ED visits, and hospitalizations are low and flat at 1.1 hospitalizations per 100,000 people.

Regionally, there is some notable variation. The Southern and Western regions are seeing clear increases. In those areas, Covid-19-related emergency room visits have been rising for four weeks in a row, though they still represent a very low percentage of total ER visits. (More details on affected states below.)