COVID-19, Influenza, and RSV Wastewater Monitoring in the U.S. | Week of January 3, 2026

Summary: Week of 1/3/26

Biobot’s national wastewater network shows that we are still in the height of the respiratory season—all three major respiratory viruses are quite high, and increasing across all regions of the US. Influenza is rising the most, followed by COVID-19 and RSV. CDC clinical data show the same: hospitalizations are highest for flu, and relatively flat for COVID-19 and RSV.

The Bottom Line: Flu is still surging right now, with COVID and RSV continuing to increase. It’s still not too late to get vaccinated. We have months of elevated viral activity ahead, and vaccination remains one of the best tools to reduce the risk of severe illness.

National Outlook

COVID-19

National SARS-CoV-2 concentrations are increasing.

Influenza

National influenza A & B concentrations are increasing.

RSV

National RSV concentrations are increasing.

Regional Outlook

The South

COVID-19: SARS-CoV-2 concentrations are increasing in the South.

Influenza: Influenza A & B concentrations are increasing in the South.

RSV: RSV concentrations are increasing in the South.

The Midwest

COVID-19: SARS-CoV-2 concentrations are increasing in the Midwest.

Influenza: Influenza A & B concentrations are increasing in the Midwest.

RSV: RSV concentrations are increasing in the Midwest.

The Northeast

COVID-19: SARS-CoV-2 concentrations are increasing in the Northeast.

Influenza: Influenza A & B concentrations are increasing in the Northeast.

RSV: RSV concentrations are increasing in the Northeast.

The West

COVID-19: SARS-CoV-2 concentrations are increasing in the West.

Influenza: Influenza A & B concentrations are increasing in the West.

RSV: RSV concentrations are increasing in the West.

Footnotes:

We continue to monitor the evolving H5N1 influenza virus situation, and can now test samples specifically for H5 (including H5N1) — see our blog here and please reach out to hello@biobot.io if interested. A quick reminder that Biobot’s influenza A assay described in this report includes the H5N1 influenza subtype, which is an influenza A virus, but does not distinguish between the different subtypes of influenza A (e.g. H5N1 vs H1N1). We will share any important updates as we have them.

Wastewater data from Biobot Analytics for RSV, influenza, and SARS-CoV-2 are through January 3, 2026 (MMWR week 1). Clinical data for RSV, influenza, and COVID-19 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are through December 20, 2025 (MMWR week 52).