High virus levels detected in wastewater
WastewaterSCAN, run by Stanford and Emory, reports elevated national levels for HMPV, rotavirus, influenza B, RSV, norovirus, and COVID. From February to early April, HMPV rose 11% and rotavirus 29%, while COVID dropped 46% overall but the Cicada variant increased 4%. Influenza A fell sharply into medium range, but influenza B remains high, down only 3%.
Seasonal trends and monitoring outlook
Many respiratory viruses historically decline with warmer weather and more outdoor activity. Experts will track wastewater results in coming weeks to see if current high levels fall, with HMPV typically tapering toward late April. Continuous wastewater surveillance will be key to detecting persistent or emerging threats beyond seasonal norms