"Surge in Respiratory Illnesses as RSV, Flu, and COVID Cases Climb Nationwide"

The U.S. is seeing a rise in respiratory infections including COVID-19, influenza, and RSV, particularly as people spend more time indoors during winter. The latest COVID variant, JN.1, accounts for over 44% of new cases and is highly contagious but generally causes milder symptoms. RSV is notably severe in children and the elderly. Health experts emphasize the importance of vaccination, noting low uptake rates for the new bivalent COVID booster, the RSV vaccine for those over 60, and the flu vaccine.