Respiratory Illness Activity Remains Low in Mesa County

LOCAL SITUATION

There are promising trends for COVID-19, flu, and RSV activity in Mesa County. Since the beginning of 2023, hospitalizations have remained low for COVID-19 and flu. Numbers are also down for people seeking care for RSV.

“We love to see declining numbers of community members being hospitalized,” stated Rachel Burmeister, Disease Surveillance and Emergency Response Manager. “Hospitalizations are a good indicator of how severe an illness is in our community. Our flu season seemed to peak in December with close to 80 individuals hospitalized that month.”

MESA COUNTY TRENDS

While respiratory viruses can happen year-round, we typically see an increase in the colder months when people are spending more time indoors. We expect to see these types of viruses decline as we get closer to spring and warmer weather. Flu season typically runs from October to May, with peak activity in Mesa County in January and February. So far this season, 110 people have been hospitalized for the flu in our community. Meanwhile, RSV generally peaks between January and April. However, there was a severe increase in RSV cases in November of 2022 both in Mesa County and across Colorado. It has since returned to a low level. To see the latest trends for respiratory illness in Mesa County, click here.

PREVENTION

For both COVID-19 and flu, vaccines are the best source of protection against severe complications. These vaccines are available at the Public Health Clinic. For more information about vaccines and how to schedule an appointment, visit our website.

“There can be an increase in flu activity in the spring, so it’s not too late to get the flu shot to make sure you’re protected. Keep in mind, it takes two weeks to be fully effective,” said Burmeister.

There are other prevention tools to help keep the community healthy. If you are sick, stay home and keep your distance from the very young and older populations. Washing your hands regularly with soap and water is another great prevention method.