COVID-19 continues to lead seasonal respiratory illnesses, CDC says

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COVID-19 infections remain the leading cause of hospitalization and death among seasonal respiratory viruses, U.S. health officials say.

Overall, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in its weekly report, respiratory illnesses are on the increase across the U.S.

These diseases cause about 15,000 hospitalizations and 1,000 deaths per week in the United States, according to officials.

This week, the CDC said a new COVID-19 variant discovered in August had tripled its cases in the past two weeks.

Cases of flu infection are on the rise, while cases of RSV — which mostly affects the old and the young — may have now peaked.

The CDC reports that 11 states are currently recording significant flu cases, up from seven states in early November. Most of those states are in the South or Southwest.

RSV cases have been on the rise over the past month, leading to a surge in hospitalizations in states like Georgia and Texas. But Dr. Mandy Cohen, director of the CDC, says the number of cases is expected to reach its worst level now or within the next week.

SEE MORE: CDC: New COVID-19 variant cases have tripled in two weeks

The CDC is also keeping track of pneumonia outbreaks affecting mostly children in Massachusetts and in Ohio, but officials have said “there is no evidence” of an unusual cause.

Ohio fitness officials have reported 145 cases of pneumonia in children since August and said most of the children have recovered at home. Officials said most of those cases were caused by common bacteria and viruses.

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