Outbreak Outlook - National - June 23

Summer covid watch continues as norovirus declines

Force of Infection is currently on its summer publication schedule. That means paid subscribers get the national Outbreak Outlook every Monday. In the fall, I'll switch to the winter schedule. The national edition becomes free for everyone, and paid subscribers get a regional edition with more details about their area.

Respiratory Diseases

Influenza-like illness

Influenza is very low, with all states reporting minimal activity. Outpatient visits for influenza-like illness (ILI) declined further this past week, to 1.4%. As a reminder, outpatient ILI means the percentage of visits to the doctor that are for fever and cough or sore throat.

Outpatient ILI has dipped (just) below 5% for those aged 0-4 years, and under 2% for those 5-24. All other age groups are now below 1.25%.

Severe illness remains very low.

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COVID-19

Covid-19 wastewater activity remains low nationally, as does severe illness. However, activity is ramping up in pockets across the country.

Wastewater activity is low but increased a bit this past week in the West. Activity held fairly steady at low levels in the South and very low levels in the Midwest and Northeast. Wastewater activity remains low or very low in most states.