COVID-19, RSV, and Flu 3D renditions of three respiratory viruses: COVID-19 (left), RSV (center; oblong shape), and flu (right).

Respiratory Illnesses

Even healthy people can get very sick from respiratory illnesses, which affect your lungs and airways, making it hard to breathe.

Current Respiratory Illness Activity Data

The levels in the table below are based on the number of emergency department visits for respiratory illnesses that look like the flu (influenza), COVID-19, and RSV (respiratory syncytial virus).

The numbers are gathered from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the NC DETECT database.

 Flu-Like IllnessCOVID-Like IllnessRSV-Like Illness
Mecklenburg CountyMODERATE
(Decreasing)		MINIMAL
(No change)		MODERATE
(Decreasing)
North CarolinaLOW
(Decreasing)		MINIMAL
(Decreasing)		MODERATE
(Decreasing)
United StatesMODERATE
(Increasing)		LOW
(Decreasing)		MODERATE
(Increasing)

See Current Respiratory Illness Data for Our Area

The Most Common Respiratory Illnesses are Flu, COVID-19, and RSV

These illnesses share common ways of spreading, symptoms, risk factors, and prevention strategies:

  • Flu

    Flu is caused by influenza viruses that infect the nose, throat, and sometimes the lungs.

  • COVID-19

    COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) is a disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus that attacks not only your lungs and respiratory system but also other parts of your body like your heart.

  • RSV

    RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) is a common respiratory virus that infects the nose, throat, respiratory tract, and lungs.

These respiratory viruses can cause mild to severe illness and can also lead to death in some cases. Anyone can get a respiratory illness; however, some people have risk factors that can increase their chances of getting very sick (severe illness):

Age:

Adults who are 65 years and older and children younger than 2 years old are usually at higher risk for getting very sick from respiratory illnesses.

Underlying Conditions:

Having medical conditions (for example, chronic lung disease, heart disease, diabetes, or chronic kidney disease), a weakened immune system, disability, and/or being pregnant are conditions that might increase your risk.

Symptoms

  • Runny or Stuffy Nose
  • New Loss of Taste or Smell
  • Sore Throat
  • Cough

These are other common symptoms felt in other parts of the body:

  • Headaches
  • Muscle or Body Aches
  • Fever
  • Chills
  • Fatigue (Tiredness)
  • Weakness
  • Decrease in Appetite
  • Vomiting or Diarrhea

Find a Free and Low-Cost Provider

Mecklenburg County Public Health partners with local healthcare providers to offer free and low-cost services. You can find a list of local providers to get the necessary treatment.

Cropped shot of a man and his two children washing their hands in the kitchen basin

Prevention

Respiratory viruses are most commonly spread when healthy people breathe in tiny droplets in the air made when infected people cough, sneeze, or talk. In other words, they are airborne viruses. But the viruses can also spread through direct contact with the virus on an infected person’s skin or a surface that an infected person touched.

The best way to prevent respiratory illness is to get regular vaccinations. Your health care provider can advise the best timing for you and your family.

Other ways to avoid getting sick are to:
  • Practice good hygiene like washing your hands regularly and cleaning surfaces that get touched a lot.
  • Improve air quality inside by opening windows or using air purifier machines.
If you have symptoms of respiratory illness:
  • Take steps to avoid getting others sick, like staying home, keeping your distance from others, and wearing a mask.
  • Take a test to get the right treatment for your symptoms.
  • If you have risk factors for severe illness, seek health care soon after you feel sick so you can start treatment.

Contact Us

Phone 980-314-9201