CDC: High levels of respiratory illness nationally, in Texas

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- With the start of the new year comes plenty of coughs and sniffles too.

Respiratory illnesses and infections are spiking nationally, according to date from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's latest activity report released Friday. Here in Texas, the CDC is reporting "very high" activity of COVID-19, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV.

It's led to some pharmacy chains like CVS texting their customers about heightened infection rates and recommending vaccinations to those who didn't have a COVID-19, flu or RSV shot.

Across the U.S., flu test results are returning an 18.7% positivity rate, COVID-19 testing is reported a 7.1% positivity rate and RSV testing results jumped to a 12.8% rate. The CDC's report said both COVID-19 and flu activity are expected to rise in the near-term future.

The CDC's data also tracks emergency department visits for viral respiratory illnesses. While ER visits for COVID-19 and RSV remain relatively low as of late December -- comprising a combined 0.8% of visits -- flu-related trips have risen to 3.6% of ER visits in Bastrop, Burnet, Lee, Llano, Travis and Williamson counties, per the CDC.

That marked the highest flu-related ER visits spike since February 2024.

The Texas Department of State Health Services' respiratory virus surveillance report found more than 21% of flu specimens tested between Dec. 15-21 came back positive, up from 15% in the previous weekly reporting period.

Austin-based Tarrytown Pharmacy told KXAN in December they were preparing for possible respiratory illness spikes, stocking shelves and making sure to have robust remedies on hand. Pharmacists also recommended frequent handwashing, covering your mouth and nose when you sneeze and coffee and distancing while sick as remedies to minimize the spread.