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, test positivity and wastewater viral activity levels reported last week are all lower than the previous week this season. Hospitalizations due to influenza have also decreased and continue to predominantly be among persons 65 years of age and older.
- Influenza A remains the most commonly reported influenza virus; among those subtyped, A(H3N2) continues to predominate this season, followed by recent reports of influenza B.
- The number of hospitalizations due to RSV decreased slightly this week, and admissions continue to predominantly be among persons 0-4 years of age and 65 years of age and older. Test positivity remains elevated though RSV activity is lower than it was this time last year.
- Hospital admissions for COVID-19 increased slightly 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 and is higher that it was this time last year. There have been recent increases in test positivity for human metapneumovirus.
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