‘Tis the season of vigorous handwashing and using copious amounts of hand sanitizer as Americans try to avoid getting sick before the holidays.
If it seems like everyone around you is constantly sniffling, sneezing, coughing, or calling out of work, it’s likely because the first act of flu and cold season is rearing its ugly head. Common winter illnesses, including COVID-19, influenza and norovirus, AKA the stomach bug, are circulating in schools, workplaces and communities across the country.
Health agencies like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention use wastewater data − collected by measuring the presence of pathogens in water sources such as sewage, industrial waste, and stormwater runoff − to monitor illnesses that are spreading and those that are predicted to spread in the future.
Hoping to stay healthy for the holidays? Here’s what to know:
Seasonal sickness on the rise: Tips to prevent winter’s germs
Cold, flu, COVID and stomach bug season is here, according to wastewater data.
Latest data and symptoms on norovirus, the stomach bug
Norovirus is a highly contagious virus that causes unpleasant gastrointestinal symptoms and is often referred to as the “stomach bug” or “stomach flu,” though it is not actually related to the influenza virus.
The most common symptoms are:
Stomach cramping or pain.
Sometimes, fever, headache, or body aches may occur.
Wastewater data maintained by WasteWaterSCAN, a Stanford University-led tool for tracking the spread of disease, reported norovirus activity as being “high” nationally the week ending Dec. 12, representing a 42% increase in the median concentration compared to November, which means more of the virus has been detected in the wastewater of more communities nationwide.
CDC data through Dec. 6 showed that 9.37% (255) of the 2,722 norovirus tests administered that week were reported as being positive to the National Respiratory and Enteric Virus Surveillance System.
The highly contagious disease has been steadily increasing since September, a typical pattern for viruses that spread most widely during colder months. Last year, WasteWaterSCAN data showed norovirus concentrations started to increase in October and peaked in February.
Flu cases climbing in states. See latest data, symptoms.
Influenza A concentrations saw a dramatic increase of 260% since October, according to WasteWaterSCAN data through Dec. 12. Even so, flu activity is still considered “low” nationally, according to both WasteWaterSCAN and CDC data.
CDC data through Dec. 6 showed that 8.05% (4,779) of the 59,364 flu tests administered that week were reported positive to the National Respiratory and Enteric Virus Surveillance System. In some regions, specifically in Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming, that number was as high as over 20%.
Some regions of the United States have notably higher flu activity than others. The Northeast and South are now officially considered to be in flu season and have higher concentrations than the rest of the country.
As of Dec. 9, CDC projections found that flu infections are on the rise in 43 states, and unchanged or not reported in seven states. No states reported a decline.
The most common symptoms of the flu are:
Is COVID on the rise? What to know about latest symptoms
In line with past seasonal patterns, COVID-19 infections are on the rise as the frigid months of winter approach.
COVID-19 activity was “high” nationwide the week ending Dec. 12, according to WasteWaterSCAN, marking a 21% increase since November. Strain XFG (Stratus) remains the most common.
The CDC, on the other hand, categorized COVID-10 activity as “low” on Dec. 6, with the highest rate of infections happening in the Northeast. Several states either didn’t report data or reported limited data from a lower number of sites, which can contribute to data discrepancies. Additional CDC data from the same week showed 3.61% (2,024) of 56,064 administered COVID-19 tests were positive.
As of Dec. 9, the CDC estimated that COVID-19 infections are growing or likely growing in 22 states, declining or likely declining in four states and not changing in 21 states.
Some common symptoms of COVID are:
Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing.
Congestion or a runny nose.
New loss of taste or smell.
You may be sick of hearing it, but it’s true: washing your hands well and often is paramount to staying healthy when flu and cold season arrives.
How to stay healthy for the holidays
You may be tired of hearing it, but the old cliche is true: Washing your hands well − and often − is one of the most effective ways to keep contagious illnesses at bay, according to the CDC. This applies to all the ailments above and others that often circulate during the wintertime, like respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV.
Health agencies recommend washing your hands with hot, soapy water for at least 20 seconds. It’s also important to wash them before and after eating, before and after handling food, after using the bathroom and after being around sick people or touching surfaces that could be contaminated.
For norovirus, general food safety practices can also prevent a holiday trip to urgent care, says the CDC. Cook your food thoroughly and to the designated internal temperature (at least 145 degrees Fahrenheit as a general rule), clean and sanitize frequently touched surfaces and objects, especially if they have been in contact with food and wash fruits and vegetables before serving or eating them.
The RSV vaccine is offered, along with flu and COVID-19 shots, at major pharmacies like CVS and Walgreens.
What to know about COVID and flu vaccines
The most effective way to prevent serious illness from flu and COVID-19 is vaccination, according to the World Health Organization, CDC and other leading medical institutions.
Everyone 6 months and older is eligible for the flu vaccine unless they have a specified medical condition, such as an allergy to its ingredients or a previous severe reaction to the shot.
COVID-19 vaccination is slightly more complicated after changes made by the CDC and the Food and Drug Administration under Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The vaccine is recommended for everyone 6 months or older based on individual decision-making after consulting with a healthcare provider, which a federal vaccine panel called “shared clinical decision-making.” Physicians, registered nurses, and pharmacists may administer vaccines to adults and school-aged children after discussing them with the patient, according to the CDC.
Pharmacies are the most common place American adults turn to for seasonal vaccines. CVS and Walgreens, two of the largest chains, offer vaccine appointments online and also accept walk-ins. Both offer the option to receive multiple vaccines at once, and the cost of immunization at these pharmacies is covered entirely by most insurance companies.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Is it COVID, flu or norovirus? See what’s going around right now.
