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.