Illness Down Nationwide, but Children Under 10 Experienced Slightly Higher Rates of Fever

Kinsa data shows that national levels of influenza-like illness (ILI) have fallen for the past week, with less than one percent of the country experiencing fevers. This continues the trend of reduced illness nationwide for most of the month. 

The rate of transmission (Rt) is stable at 0.98, indicating that overall illness transmission is mildly decreasing. Rt is a measure of how many other people one sick person will infect. A transmission rate above one means the number of people experiencing illness will increase, while below one means it will decrease.

While the top-line information is promising, not all groups are experiencing decreased illness. Kinsa data shows people younger than 10 years old are experiencing more fevers than others. This trend, which began earlier in the month, is likely due to common cold and flu viruses returning as people roll back COVID precautions.