As the New Year rolls in, so do the impacts from holiday gatherings, bringing with them a storm of fury. Currently, public health officials are reporting a noticeable rise in temperature, and we don’t mean outside. As fevers, respiratory illnesses, influenza (flu), COVID-19, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) numbers start climbing, it’s something we all may want to be more aware of to help bring them down. While year-to-year variability is normal, this season’s trend is driven by several factors that we can measure and respond to as a community to keep everyone as safe and healthy as possible. Just because the “season” is here doesn’t mean we’re out of time to make an impactful change.
One of the most important tools used by the Vermont Department of Health (VDH) (healthvermont.gov) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (cdc.gov) is wastewater surveillance. While it may sound stinky, this method analyzes sewage samples from treatment facilities for traces of respiratory viruses, including influenza, SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19), and more. This is a reliable tool, because people who have these illnesses will “shed” viral particles even before symptoms start and in many cases without symptoms. This impacts the wastewater data, which provides an early indication of viruses circulating in the community before clinical cases are reported through tests or doctors’ offices. The CDC says, “Influenza viruses can be detected in most infected persons beginning one day before symptoms develop and up to five to seven days after becoming sick,” as seen in Vermont’s data.
Vermont’s respiratory illness dashboard, wastewater samples collected across multiple Vermont locations have shown increasing levels of influenza A and other respiratory viruses in recent weeks of the 2025-2026 season. Officials note that rising virus levels in wastewater suggest that more people in these communities are shedding virus and are likely infected, even if they have not yet sought medical care. The numbers we have seen in the past few weeks are changing at a rapid pace, letting us know, now is a great time to think about how we can be aware and best help ourselves stay well!
Even here in the NEK, NCH emergency departments, walk-in clinics, and primary care providers are feeling this uptick, particularly among high-risk groups such as children, older adults, and people with chronic health conditions. Increased respiratory illness tends to mean more doctor’s visits, more hospitalizations for severe cases, and sometimes longer wait times in clinics. National data from the CDC shows that “respiratory activity overall, including flu and RSV, has been elevated and contributing to health care demand.” When you add in Covid-19, that still makes its presence known, and you have a circulation of three respiratory viruses that can compound stresses on outpatient and emergency care, a phenomenon public health experts call a “tripledemic.”
What Can You Do Now? There’s still TIME to Take Action.
To protect yourself and your loved ones this season. Consider these steps:
T — Take good care of yourself Eat well, rest, stay hydrated, and manage stress to help keep your immune system strong. This is important all year long! We are a product of how we used to treat ourselves. Make choices now for how you want to feel later.
I — Immunize Yes, you absolutely can still get your flu, COVID-19, and other vaccines/boosters. Talk to your medical provider about pneumonia and RSV vaccines if you’re in a high-risk group. Vaccination remains the best defense against serious illness; however, it takes a community to make it the most effective.
M — Make wise decisions about exposures and consider masking. Limit close contact in crowded indoor spaces when virus levels are high. Use masks if you’re at higher risk or around vulnerable people. You’ll see here at NCH, we are masking. Why not? We want to ensure we are here to care for our community, so if this is one extra layer of protection we can add, we’re all doing it.
E — Educate yourself and others Know the symptoms of respiratory illnesses (fever, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath) and stay home when sick to prevent spreading viruses to others. When in doubt, use your medical portals or call your provider with questions. It’s always better to yield, exposing others, and be sure, than spreading these highly contagious illnesses.
Staying informed and proactive helps protect not only each of us individually, but our entire community. Together, we can slow the spread. We know this because we’ve done it before. Visit the Vermont Department of Health website and the CDC’s Respiratory Virus Data Channel for the latest surveillance reports and guidance on staying healthy this season. As you know, winter is only getting started, so can you! There’s still time to take action!