I don’t know about you, but it seems like everyone I know either has some kind of cold or “bug,” or is just getting over one. Truth be told, I’m not feeling that great, myself. High rates of minor, contagious illnesses are typical around this time of year. Many people have been spending time with friends and family in close quarters during the holiday season, which is a perfect opportunity to share special moments as well as a lot of less special germs and viruses. And then, without meaning to, and usually without even knowing it, we go back to work and school and spread whatever we have picked up to people there.
This year, some of the most common viruses we see this time of year are starting to surge, so it is extremely important to be aware of what is going around, what symptoms to look out for, and how to protect yourself from getting sick. So let’s do a rundown of some of the main infectious diseases in the U.S. this year.
What viruses are surging this year?
The main infectious disease threats this year are not necessarily new, but they are aggressive and cases are definitely rising. The ones to watch out for are: influenza, COVID, RSV, and norovirus. I’ll go into a little more about each of them below.
Influenza
Influenza, or “the flu,” is especially bad across the U.S. this year. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), who monitors rates of illnesses and keeps the public informed about potential outbreaks and health risks, has categorized the risk levels of flu as high or very high all around the U.S., and continues to increase.
Contributing to such high rates is that fewer people seem to be getting the flu vaccine. With fewer people vaccinated, the virus is able to infect more individuals and spread more easily. People who contract the flu are also more likely to have more severe symptoms and a longer recovery time, compared to those who have been vaccinated.
Common Symptoms: Fever, chills, cough, sore throat, body aches, feeling tired, runny nose
How Long Does It Last? Flu symptoms usually hit more quickly than a cold
Flu can last from a few days to 2 weeks
COVID-19
The pandemic may be over, but COVID-19 has become part of our accepted lives, in the same way as the flu. The number of cases is nowhere near pandemic numbers, but between October 1, 2024, and December 14, 2024, the CDC estimates there were somewhere between 2.7 million and almost 5 million COVID-19 illnesses. Vaccine rates for COVID-19 are drastically lower than in years past (polling shows only about one-fifth of adults in the U.S. say they have gotten the newest COVID-19 vaccine). COVID-19 is no longer at emergency status, but it still causes more hospitalizations and deaths than flu and RSV.
Common Symptoms: Cough, congestion, runny nose, fever or chills, headache, body aches, sore throat, feeling tired, loss of taste or smell, shortness of breath, diarrhea, nausea or vomiting
How Long Does It Last? Mild to moderate cases of COVID-19 usually last an average of 10 days. More severe cases may take longer to recover.
RSV
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a respiratory illness affecting the nose, throat, and lungs with symptoms similar to the common cold and flu. Those most vulnerable to RSV include infants, older adults, and individuals with weakened immune systems. Levels of RSV have increased, with levels in half of U.S. states categorized as high or very high through the end of December. Currently, vaccination for RSV is available for infants and young children, adults 60 years and older, and pregnant individuals. However, while rates of RSV vaccination are generally high among infants, they are far below desired in older adults, who face a higher risk of severe RSV, side effects, and hospitalization.
Common Symptoms: Fever, feeling tired/low energy, cough, congestion, sore throat, headache, runny nose
How Long Does It Last? Illness typically appears 4–6 days after exposure.
RSV usually 1–2 weeks, although it depends on how severe the illness is
Norovirus
Norovirus is a common and highly contagious virus that causes vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach cramping. In the past month, the U.S. has seen a steep surge in cases of norovirus, spreading in the country and on cruise ships. Scientists think part of the reason for this large wave of cases could be that we are dealing with a new strain of norovirus. This new strain has accounted for almost 7 in 10 norovirus outbreaks this season, and only 7% of outbreaks have been linked to the strain that has been most common in the past. Right now, the best we can do is use traditional prevention measures (described below) to protect against norovirus, but there is a norovirus vaccine in development.
Common Symptoms: Vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain or cramping, nausea, loss of taste, headache, muscle aches, weakness, feeling tired
How Long Does It Last? Illness usually appears suddenly and is typically short, with symptoms lasting 1–2 days
Protect yourself: What can you do?
There are many ways to protect yourself and your loved ones from all of the viruses described above. I’m going to walk through them, but it will probably seem a little silly because many people think of these things as “common sense.” Consider this just a good reminder, if that is the case for you.
- Wash Your Hands. With soap. Scrub. Do this many times throughout the day, especially after using the bathroom, before eating, and before preparing food. And take your time — most sources suggest at least 20 seconds. While hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol is a good option on the go, be aware that it is not effective against norovirus.
- Keep surfaces clean. Particularly for norovirus exposure, you should immediately disinfect surfaces that have come in contact with food or any bodily fluids. Disinfecting with a chlorine bleach solution is recommended by CDC. Remember to wash clothing that may have been exposed, as well. I’m including a link to the CDC’s guide to disinfecting your home below.
- Keep your mouth covered and your hands away from your face. If you need to cough or sneeze, make sure to cover your nose and mouth with a tissue. If one isn’t handy, aim for the inside of your elbow to cover your face, since that will come in less contact with surfaces that will be touched by others. And, of course, wash your hands as soon as possible. And try to keep your hands away from your face. That is an easy way to spread germs from your hands to the mucus membranes of your eyes, nose, or mouth and infect yourself.
- Don’t fall back into pre-pandemic practices. By this, I mean, we are all now more aware of ways to keep ourselves and others from infecting those around us. If you are sick — stay home! Don’t expose others if you have symptoms or suspect you have a virus. And practice social distancing when you know viruses are going around. You can spend time with others without sharing a seat (most of the time).
- Get vaccinated for what you can. Vaccines for flu and COVID-19 are easily accessible (and sometimes places will offer perks like a grocery gift card or discount on a purchase — check their policy/promotion), quick, and pretty painless. They are less painful than the flu and/or COVID-19! Have your children vaccinated, too. Schools are breeding grounds for germs and viruses.
Other Questions?
I wanted to cover these viruses in this post because they are very relevant right now and with their high rates as well as their surging at the same time, some people are even referring to them as the ‘Quad-demic’. But I have just scratched the surface of these most common winter viruses, providing you with the basics of each one, and letting you know what to be aware of this year based on the illness rates we are seeing so far in the U.S. I am including links to more detailed information on each illness below if you want to read more about any or all of them.
I want to call out this link, especially, because I find it very helpful in trying to tell apart some of the respiratory viruses with very similar symptoms. It is from the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases and is a chart showing how to tell the difference between flu, RSV, COVID-19, and the common cold. I find it handy and pretty interesting:
I hope you will take note of the prevention practices I suggest to keep yourself and your loved ones safe and healthy. I find life hectic enough without being out of commission for a week or two feeling terrible, and I’m sure you do, too. Please send me questions, comments, thoughts, etc. as you see fit. I love hearing from you and appreciate your engagement!
Until next time…
Be Well; Be Kind,
Dr. Casey
Want to Learn More?
Here, CDC breaks down everything you have ever wanted to know about influenza:
https://www.cdc.gov/flu/index.html
Find answers for any COVID-19 or COVID-19 vaccine question you have ever had here:
https://www.cdc.gov/covid/about/index.html
CDC details all about RSV here:
https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/index.html
Information about norovirus, how it spreads, and how to prevent it:
https://www.cdc.gov/norovirus/index.html
For information on norovirus outbreaks, the CDC has a great page that provides excellent information, including current alerts and advisories:
https://www.cdc.gov/norovirus/outbreak-basics/index.html
Here is CDC’s guidance on how to best clean and disinfect your home:
Interested in keeping up with the respiratory activity levels around the U.S.? CDC tracks this and provides information on the spread of COVID-19, influenza, and RSV here:
https://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/data/activity-levels.html
