The Fairfax County Health Department has published a new Respiratory Illness Dashboard to help residents stay informed about the prevalence and trends of respiratory viruses in the Fairfax Health District. This tool offers real-time updates and data on various respiratory illnesses such as flu, COVID-19, and RSV.
The dashboard provides an accessible, easy to use platform where users can track local respiratory illness activity, compare data across multiple weeks, and view charts that display outbreaks and emergency department and urgent care visits related to respiratory diseases. Outbreaks are reported by facility type, including child care, schools, long-term care facilities, and other settings. Emergency department and urgent care visits are broken down by age group.
In addition to data on the dashboard, the Health Department highlights ways everyone can reduce their risk of getting or spreading a respiratory infection.
The dashboard comes at a critical time as October 1 marked the start of the CDC-defined respiratory disease season. Residents are encouraged to visit the Respiratory Illness Dashboard regularly to stay updated on respiratory illness activity as well as prevention strategies.
We urge everyone to build healthy habits to prevent respiratory illnesses now as we look ahead to the fall and winter months:
- Stay Up to Date with Recommended Immunizations
- Stay home when you are sick
- Wash your hands — often
- Cover your coughs and sneezes
- Clean surfaces regularly and avoid touching your face
- Take steps for cleaner air
Visit our webpage and follow us on social media for updates on this and other health topics.