Following the holiday gathering season, officials with the Lancaster County Health Department (LLCHD) say local flu activity is on the rise.
The latest respiratory illness data from LLCHD shows 15.7% of flu tests conducted come back positive.
“That includes flu, COVID-19 and RSV,” said Health Director Kerry Kernen. “As people are gathering over the holidays, and it being the wintertime, this is when we start to see these spikes within these viral illnesses. This increase mirrors what we saw around the same time last year.”
Other data provided by LLCHD shows the percentage of provider visits for influenza like illness (ILI) was 7.6% for the week ending December 28, 2024, an increase from 4.1% the previous week. The percentage of local hospital admissions for ILI was 10.9% for the week ending December 28, 2024, an increase from 9.4% the previous week.
RSV showed the biggest increase in activity. Lancaster County weekly RSV positivity was 7.9% for the week ending December 28, 2024, an increase from 3.2% the previous week.
Kernen says staying up to date on vaccines and taking simple precautions helps you stay healthier and reduces the spread of illness in the community. For more details, visit lincoln.ne.gov.