Respiratory Viruses Remain Active in Connecticut

Greenwich, 1-24-24: It seems that everybody knows somebody who is sick or recovering from a respiratory illness these days. Between the common cold, influenza, RSV, and COVID-19, it is no wonder. The common narrative is that the symptoms, especially the cough, is lingering sometimes for weeks. This has implications for people getting safely back to work and school. A January 19th CDC update detailed that many people are getting co-infected with more than one respiratory virus at a time including coming down with different strains of influenza (Information for the 2023-2024 Flu Season | CDC). There are also several different COVID-19 mutations circulating, and you can become infected with more than one, but the CDC has noted that about 86% of COVID-19 cases in this country are currently being caused by COVID-19’s JN.1 mutation. This variant is the most widely circulating one not only here in America, but across the world (CDC says JN.1 variant accounts for about 86% of COVID cases in US (msn.com)). JN.1 doesn’t make you sicker than prior versions, but it is much more contagious so you can make many others ill if you expose them. The CDC has issued projections that the JN.1 variant is going to continue to increase as a proportion of all the circulating COVID-19 viruses (Update on SARS-CoV-2 Variant JN.1 Being Tracked by CDC | CDC), thus supporting the public health call to action that people get vaccinated with the latest COVID-19 vaccine/booster that became available to us in the Fall of 2023, and that people take adequate precautions to avoid making others sick. A Yale Infectious disease Specialist, Dr. Heidi Zapata, has advised people to get the updated mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, get tested if they become ill, and to consider masking in appropriate situations (3 Things to Know About JN.1, the New Coronavirus Strain > News > Yale Medicine). There are also vaccines and antiviral treatments for influenza and RSV that can help you through your illness.

While there are some indicators that the circulating respiratory viral diseases may be slightly declining after our recent post-holiday surges, as of January 22nd, the rates remain high across the country, with influenza illness accounting for the majority of emergency department visits (CDC Respiratory Virus Updates | CDC). Per the CDC, based on emergency department visits, here in Fairfield County our flu and RSV rates are decreasing but our COVID-19 rates remail unchanged. This is borne out by the updates that are put out weekly by the Greenwich Health Department based on CDC and CT-DPH data. These were the latest figures as of 1-20-24:

Flu RSV COVID-19 Stay home when sick/symptomatic!

Cases: 11,153 11,803 33,441 If at risk or un/under-protected wear a mask when in crowds!

Hospitalized: 647 896 4,833 Wash hands often and thoroughly!

Deaths: 24 28 277 Use good respiratory hygiene measures!

Talk with your healthcare provider about getting vaccinated!