RSV

The rate dropped to about 5.5 infant deaths per 1,000 live births in 2024, according to CDC provisional data. That’s down from about 5.6 per 1,000, where it had been the previous two years.

Flu, RSV and other respiratory illnesses are sending people to urgent care and emergency rooms. In some cases, these patients are ending up with pneumonia.

While the latest state report shows the first significant decrease in flu cases since the peak, the numbers are still higher compared to the same period in recent years.

The most recent CDC hospitalization data and other indicators show that the flu virus is trending higher than the other germs. Several seasonal strains are driving cases.

RSV was in full swing throughout November, but vaccine levels for it and other respiratory diseases remain low - especially in high-risk populations.

When families and friends congregate in small spaces, they will be bringing whatever variants of flu, COVID and other viruses with them.

Anyone with COVID-19 during the summer has some, but not full, protection against germs spreading in fall and winter. Infectious disease experts recommend what shots to get now.

While not perfect, vaccinations are the best bet for avoiding a bad case of flu or COVID-19 this fall and winter. The CDC recommends these vaccinations for ages 6 months and older.

It starts earlier and runs longer than anywhere else in the U.S., according to UF’s Emerging Pathogens Institute. Most older adults, who are vulnerable to the disease, haven’t been vaccinated yet.

Capital Health Plan doctors invite area residents to take a stroll with them around Tallahassee's Cascades Park as part of a healthy lifestyle.