Community Respiratory Illness Activity Levels (12/8-12/14)
Activity Level Threshold Calculation Methodology
Disease activity level thresholds for COVID, Flu, and RSV are calculated using the Moving Epidemic Method (MEM). The epidemic threshold is calculated at the start of the respiratory season using data from the previous five seasons. Because COVID is a new disease that started transmission in 2020 and does not yet have a clear seasonal pattern, the MEM multiple wave algorithm was used to classify waves. To calculate the epidemic threshold for COVID for the 2023-24 season, we used data from February 2020 to September 2023. To calculate the transmission alert thresholds for influenza and RSV for the 2023-24 season, we used data from the following seasons: 2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20, and 2022-23. We excluded the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons because of the COVID pandemic. As our understanding of respiratory viruses continues to grow, we will re-evaluate and update our methods using newer scientific methods as they become available. Because the COVID threshold was calculated from pandemic levels of disease, the threshold will change over time as disease levels change and become more endemic.
| Condition | Status | Week of 12/8-12/14 | Illness Activity Level Threshold* |
|---|---|---|---|
| COVID | Low (up from 0.5%) | 0.9% | 2.65% |
| Flu | VERY ELEVATED (up from 2.9%) | 6.1% | 1.20% |
| RSV | Low (down from 0.5%) | 0.0% | 0.30% |
*NOTE: When the percent of ED visits for a virus is above its activity level threshold (ELEVATED), it is a sign that there is substantial spread of that virus in the community.
Respiratory Illness Activity Dashboard for Whitman County
You can view past and current percent of ED visit and hospitalizations for Respiratory Illness (Flu, COVID, & RSV) at the "Disease Activity for Whitman County" dashboard below.