Feel like everyone's getting sick lately? Latest CDC maps reveals dozens of states are still hotspots for flu and stomach bugs

We may be heading into spring, but parts of America continue to be battered by flu and other infections.

Ohio, Nebraska, New Mexico, Michigan and Arkansas have 'very high' levels of flu activity - the highest amounts of people reporting to the doctor with flu-like symptoms - the CDC's latest weekly report showed.

And many other states have 'high' levels of respiratory illness, the data showed - the same number as the week before.

At the same time, norovirus, more commonly known as the stomach flu, has been rapidly spreading across the North East, putting 'lives on hold' in some areas.

Ohio, Nebraska, New Mexico, Michigan and Arkansas have 'very high' levels of flu activity, the CDC's latest weekly report showed

Based on the latest CDC data, which collects information from 3,400 hospitals across the country, in the week, just over 14 percent of tests came back positive for flu in the US for the week ending February 24, a slight decrease from the week before that

Graphic shows the common symptoms (green tick), occasional and possible symptoms (orange circle) and the symptoms that never occur (red cross) with the common cold, flu and Covid

Latest data from the CDC showed that nearly 14 percent of tests in the region came back positive for norovirus at the start of February — up from around four percent in November before the outbreak started.

While high infection rates are not unusual for this time of year, doctors have said many people are suffering more severe illness than usual due to lockdowns and social isolation during the pandemic leading to weakened immunity.

During the week ending on February 24, more than 16 percent of tests came back positive for norovirus, CDC data showed. Positivity rates in the Northeast have been more than 13 percent for the past month.

Norovirus spreads easily through contact with contaminated surfaces and then touching the area around the mouth or nose.

Infections typically cause gastrointestinal symptoms such as stomach ache and watery diarrhea — as well as a fever and a headache.

In the vast majority of cases, symptoms clear within two days — with little treatment needed besides bed rest.

Ohio, which currently has the most people reporting to the doctor with flu-like symptoms than anywhere else in America, has seen a six percent rise in respiratory illnesses since the week before.

It's rate of flu hospitalizations is 51 per 100,000 population.

Two more children have died from the flu in the week ending February 24, bringing the total to 93 pediatric deaths since the start of the flu season in October last year.

Some 174 deaths were reported for the 2022-23 flu season as of October 31, 2023.

In the latest flu season, the CDC estimated there have been at least 26 million illnesses, 290,000 hospitalizations, and 18,000 deaths from flu so far. 

During the 2022–2023 season, an estimated 31 million people were sick with flu, with 14 million visits to a health care provider for flu, 360,000 hospitalizations for flu, and 21,000 flu deaths.

Based on the latest CDC data, which collects information from 3,400 hospitals across the country, in the week, more than 14 percent of tests came back positive for flu in the US for the week ending February 24, a slight decrease from the week before that.

The CDC's surveillance system tracks doctors visits for respiratory illnesses that include a fever plus a cough or sore throat.

MAP: Sea of red engulfs US as tripledemic hits America 

Across America, 38 states are now reporting 'high' or 'very high' levels of flu-like illness, up 19 percent in a week and nearly three times the level a month ago. 

Data from the Ohio Department of Health showed that its number of flu-like illnesses is currently above the five year-average for this time of year.

Triggered by influenza viruses, the flu usually causes people to have a cough, the most common crossover seasonal virus symptom.

Signs of the flu are typically much more intense than colds and can even cause stomach issues. 

It can prove fatal in some cases if complications, such as pneumonia, arise among the most vulnerable.

Some 18,790 flu-associated hospitalizations have occurred between October 1, 2023, and February 24, 2024.

Respiratory disease levels usually peak in January and February due to the cold weather.

It comes as fears emerge on social media platforms about a ‘mystery virus’ that has caused Covid-like symptoms, despite many having tested negative for the virus, as well as flu and RSV.

People described being sick for weeks on end with high fevers, nausea, trouble breathing, loss of sense of smell, and fatigue.

But health experts said the virus is less mysterious than it is painted online. 

There are viruses circulating at all times of year, and this ‘mystery virus’ is likely one of the common seasonal illnesses that were suppressed during the Covid pandemic.

There is thought to be a two-pronged effect at play. People are hypersensitive to their own health after the pandemic, and our immune systems were weakened due to things like lockdowns and working from home, when we were not exposed to germs, making illnesses feel more brutal.