Public Health Outbreaks
Why this is rated unknown
CDC reports acute respiratory illness causing people to seek care is very low as of Sept 25, 2026, with COVID-19, flu, and RSV hospitalizations low and RSV activity very low. The specific numeric ED-visit percentage could not be verified from the retrieved pages, so the driving indicator is reported qualitatively as very low, below the 6% elevated threshold.
Unknown: Data is missing, delayed, or too stale to assess. Methodology
What is this?
This tracks how many people are getting sick from germs that spread.
How it's doing: We don't have new enough information to tell.
About this area
Tracks respiratory illness activity and notable infectious disease outbreaks. CDC reports acute respiratory illness prompting healthcare visits is very low nationally. COVID-19 activity remains elevated but is declining, seasonal flu is low, and RSV activity is very low. Rhinovirus/Enterovirus and group A strep are increasing as children return to school. CDC expects the 2026-2027 season to bring a combined peak hospitalization burden similar to last season.
Indicators
Latest readings. Changes are shown without judgment of whether up or down is better.
| Indicator | Latest |
|---|---|
National wastewater viral activity Wastewater viral activity level for influenza A, SARS-CoV-2, and RSV; CDC notes a brief data gap affecting about 200 sites during a contract transition. Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention | Low |
ED visits for respiratory illness CDC characterizes acute respiratory illness causing people to seek healthcare as very low; a specific numeric percentage was not stated in the retrieved pages. Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention | Very low |
Timeline of developments
Rhinovirus/enterovirus and group A strep increasing nationally (opens original release)
CDC reports rhinovirus/enterovirus is increasing nationally and group A strep reports are beginning to rise as children return to school, with an uptick in ED visits for strep throat and scarlet fever.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and PreventionBrief wastewater data gap during contract transition (opens original release)
CDC is competitively awarding a new wastewater testing contract; during the transition there will be a brief gap in wastewater data affecting about 200 sites.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and PreventionCDC issues 2026-2027 respiratory disease season outlook (opens original release)
CDC expects the combined peak hospitalization rate for COVID-19, flu, and RSV to be similar to last season (within 20%), with low to moderate confidence, based on historical trends, expert opinion, and COVID-19 scenario modeling.
Source: CDC
Sources and citationsWhere this info comes from
- 1.Respiratory Illnesses Data Channel
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Accessed Sep 27, 2026.
- 2.National wastewater data for respiratory viruses
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Accessed Sep 27, 2026.
- 3.2026-2027 Respiratory Disease Season Outlook
CDC. Accessed Sep 28, 2026.
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