The winter season has arrived, bringing with it a wave of sickness. According to recent data released, respiratory illness has spiked this 2024-2025 winter season. Respiratory diseases such as COVID-19, influenza, and RSV are common during these cold months. In graph 1 below by the South Dakota Department of Health displays the new cases, new hospitalization, and new deaths for the 2024-2025 COVID-19 season in South Dakota, beginning on September 29th, 2024.

Graph 1:

Influenza is another respiratory disease, in graph 2 below by the South Dakota Department of Health displays the new cases, new hospitalization, and new deaths for the 2024-2025 influenza season in South Dakota, beginning on September 29th, 2024.

Graph 2:

Influenza has impacted South Dakota more than COVID-19 did this season, according to the South Dakota Department of Health, as shown in the graph above. The CDC states, “Respiratory illness activity is monitored using the acute respiratory illness (ARI) metric. ARI captures a broad range of diagnoses from emergency department visits for respiratory illnesses, from common cold to severe infections like influenza, RSV, and COVID-19.” In graph 3 below by the CDC displays the respiratory illness activity levels in the United States.

Graph 3:

Water Waste can have traces of infectious diseases, and according to the CDC, “Water Waste (sewage) can be tested to detect traces of infectious diseases circulating in a community, even if people don’t have symptoms.” In graph 4 below by the CDC displays the water waste activity levels in the United States.

Graph 4:

The impact that a winter illness may have on an individual can depend on their age, gender, race/ethnicity, and many more factors. The next few graphs below by the CDC display how people are impacted by age and gender. 

Emergency department visits by age:

Hospitalization by age:

Deaths by age:

Emergency department visits by gender:

Hospitalization by gender:

Deaths by gender:

The total percent of deaths this winter for COVID-19, influenza, and RSV was 3.9%. The CDC states, “The percent of COVID-19 deaths (1.1%) declined, and the percent of influenza deaths (2.8%) increased compared with the prior week.” In graph 10 below by the CDC below displays death trends on respiratory illness in the United States.

Graph 10: