From WisPolitics.com/WisBusiness.com …
— Respiratory illnesses have started to climb as the months get colder, but recent Department of Health Services data shows infections are slightly down from last year.
About 12% of emergency department visits in the week of Oct. 11 had a diagnosis of some kind of respiratory illness, according to the most recently available DHS data. That number is almost the same as the 14% emergency departments saw during the week of Oct. 12 last year. DHS data includes tracking of COVID-19, fly and RSV infections.
Respiratory illnesses diagnoses began increasing last year around September and steadily rose to a peak in February of around 28% of all emergency department visits.
DHS rates activity for flu, RSV and COVID-19 activity as “minimal” right now.
COVID-19 activity is decreasing while RSV and flu activity is stable, according to DHS’ respiratory illness dashboard.
DHS recommends staying up-to-date on vaccines, taking steps to gather groups outside rather than indoors, bringing outside air inside, washing your hands, covering coughs and sneezes, and staying home if you’re sick.
Roughly 4.6% of the statewide population has received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine so far in the 2025-2026 season with Dane County’s population at 10.6%, the highest of all 72 counties.
Dane County also has the highest flu vaccination rate so far with 19.9% of the population receiving at least one dose compared to the statewide average of 12.4%.
The county also has the highest RSV vaccination rate among those aged 50 and up with 23.9% of the population vaccinated compared to the 16.8% statewide average. DHS recommends anyone 75 and older to get the RSV vaccine, as well as anyone 50-74 who’s at increased risk of severe RSV.
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