Public Health Info: Respiratory Illness Surveillance Report for week ending January 17, 2026

Published:
January 22, 2026

What You Need To Know

Please find this week’s Respiratory Illness Surveillance Report which summarizes surveillance information for COVID-19, influenza, RSV, and other respiratory illnesses.

Report highlights:

  • Influenza activity continues to decrease in NJ. The number of cases, emergency department visits, wastewater activity levels and test positivity reported last week are all lower than the previous week this season. Hospitalizations due to influenza have also decreased and continues to predominantly be among persons 65 years of age and older.
  • Influenza A(H3N2) remains the predominant subtyped influenza virus so far this season, and has been associated with increased severity in past seasons. A majority of A(H3N2) viruses tested at CDC belong to an emerging subclade K, however the impact of this drift on the current season is unclear.
  • The number of emergency department visits and hospitalizations due to RSV increased this week, and continues to predominantly be among persons 0-4 years of age and 65 years of age and older. Test positivity remains elevated.
  • Emergency department visits and hospital admissions for COVID-19 have decreased since the previous week. Hospital admissions are lower than they were this time last year and continue to be predominantly in persons 65 years and older. The predominant variant continues to be Omicron XFG.
  • Respiratory outbreaks reported in long-term care facilities over the last week were due to influenza, COVID-19 and RSV while absenteeism and outbreaks reported in schools continue to be predominantly due to influenza.
  • Test positivity for seasonal coronaviruses remains elevated. Rhinovirus and enterovirus test positivity, which peaked in September, continues to decline.

Please contact the Communicable Disease Service at 609-826-5964 with questions. This report is posted at https://www.nj.gov/health/respiratory-viruses/data-and-reports/.
For additional information, visit the NJDOH CDS Respiratory Illness Dashboard and the NJDOH CDS Vaccination Coverage in NJ LTC Facilities Dashboard