Key trends
January 22, 2026
Current respiratory activity is measured in consideration of recent past respiratory seasons.
- Influenza test positivity continues to decrease and is at moderate-to-high levels. Wastewater viral loads are at low-to-moderate levels in most sites.
SARS-CoV-2 test positivity is stable at low levels. Wastewater viral loads remain stable at low-to-moderate levels in most sites. Severe outcomes remain low.
- The proportions of emergency department and primary care visits for respiratory illness are decreasing and are at moderate levels. Trends are comparable to prior seasons.
- In Canada, all indicators of influenza activity decreased sharply in the most recent reporting week.
In the USA, seasonal influenza activity remains elevated across the country.
In the European Union/European Economic Area (EU/EEA), influenza circulation is high and affecting all age groups, with the peak appearing to have passed in most countries. An overall decreasing trend in hospitalisations reflects what is being observed in primary care; however, hospital admissions remain elevated, with the highest numbers seen in adults aged 65 years and above.
- In Canada, indicators of RSV activity were either stable or increasing slowly in the most recent reporting week.
In the USA, RSV activity is elevated in many areas of the country, including emergency department visits among infants less than 1 year and children 1-4 years old and hospitalisations among infants less than 1 year old.
In the EU/EEA, RSV circulation is elevated and continues to slowly increase. RSV-related hospitalisations are at lower levels than have been observed at this time of year in the past four seasons. Hospital admissions are rising in a few countries, primarily among children under five years of age.
- In Canada, indicators of COVID-19 activity were stable in the most recent reporting week.
In the USA, COVID-19 activity is low but increasing.
In the EU/EEA, SARS-CoV-2 circulation remains low in all age groups, and the impact on hospitalisations is currently limited.
