Force of Infection is now on the summer schedule, meaning national Outbreak Outlook updates are only available to paid subscribers. The winter schedule, including the free national version, will resume in October. To continue receiving reports during the summer, please upgrade to paid.
Influenza-like illness
We are still in the off season. Outpatient influenza-like illness (ILI), or the percentage of visits to the doctor that are for fever and cough or sore throat, remains minimal at 0.9%. Activity in all four regions of the country is very low. Severe illness is minimal.
As always, children ages 0-4 have the highest rates of outpatient ILI at 3.2%, up slightly from the week prior. The 5-24 age group is also up slightly, now at 1.3%. Adults are experiencing minimal activity.
One point of interest: This marks the first time in many months that outpatient influenza-like illness has increased. Activity is so low that this is not of practical consequence, but I always find it interesting to see evidence of increased transmission during back to school season.
COVID-19
National Trend
Covid-19 activity continues to rise as we move further into the summer season, particularly in the South and West. However, current levels remain below what we saw at this point last year. Both ED visits and wastewater concentration are increasing, and test positivity continues to rise from a recent low of less than 1% to 4.8% during the most recent reporting week. For context, last summer peaked at 12%.