Local respiratory illness data available, prevention tools available at MCPH

Tracking respiratory illness hospitalizations 

COVID-19, flu, and RSV are respiratory illnesses that cause hospitalizations in Mesa County every year. Our disease surveillance team tracks respiratory illness hospitalizations to gauge the severity of each illness as it spreads through the community. We typically see the most activity from October through March, with peak activity between December and February. We will update Mesa County hospitalization numbers every other week for these three viruses until the end of March 2025. 

Trends from 2023-2024 respiratory virus season

Last season there were fewer hospitalizations in Mesa County overall compared to the 2022-2023 season. Mesa County had significantly more hospitalizations related to COVID-19 than the other viruses, but the numbers were still lower than the previous year. Flu hospitalizations remained high but were lower than the previous season. RSV hospitalizations, including pediatric hospitalizations, remained high in the 2023-2024 season, however, were lower than the previous season. You can explore the data from last season’s respiratory virus season on our website. 

Continue to encourage prevention 

“Respiratory viruses, including the flu, COVID-19, and RSV, are a concern this time of year as we start to spend more time indoors and around big groups of people. They are all transmitted similarly- through droplets from a sneeze or cough. And all three of these viruses, if they’re severe, can lead to hospitalization. Prevention measures are important, especially to keep our most vulnerable populations safe,” said Kathleen Satterfield, Epidemiologist Supervisor at Mesa County Public Health.

Prevention actions protect you and those around you from the worst outcomes of these viral respiratory diseases. 

• Stay home when you are sick.
• Wash your hands frequently.
• Disinfect surfaces you frequently touch at home and work - like door knobs and light switches.
• Stay up to date on vaccines.

Vaccines and testing options at Public Health Clinic

Flu, COVID-19, and RSV vaccines are available in the Mesa County County Public Health Clinic. Call 970-248-6906 to schedule an appointment. Convenient respiratory testing is also available in the Clinic. With a single nasal swab, our team can test for flu, COVID-19, and RSV. We also offer strep testing. Learn more about testing services on our website.