Respiratory Illness Activity in Vermont | Vermont Department of Health
Source: http://healthvermont.gov/disease-control/respiratory-illnesses/respiratory-illness-activity-vermont
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:15
Respiratory Illness Activity in Vermont | Vermont Department of Health
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Translations for you
Respiratory Illness Activity in Vermont
Respiratory Illnesses
Flu, COVID & RSV Vaccines
Preventing Respiratory Illnesses
What to do if you're sick
Respiratory Illness Activity in Vermont
Respiratory Illness Clinical Guidance for Health Care Providers
Outbreak Information for Schools and Group Living Settings
Respiratory Illness Communications Materials
Virus Levels in Your Community
Wastewater data helps us understand
how flu and COVID-19 viruses might be changing or spreading
in the community, even before people start to feel sick. When levels are high or increasing in your area, it may be a good time to take extra steps to protect yourself from getting sick.
Our interactive dashboard displays up-to-date wastewater monitoring data from samples collected at wastewater treatment facilities across Vermont.
See the Wastewater Monitoring Dashboard
Weekly flu report
Weekly COVID report
Explore vaccine data
How We Monitor Illness Activity
The Health Department monitors flu and COVID-19 activity and vaccine coverage in the state throughout the year. Timely data helps us understand how diseases are spreading. We collaborate with health care providers, laboratories, clinics, emergency departments, CDC, and other state health departments to track measures like:
Emergency department visits for flu-like illness
Emergency department visits among people with confirmed COVID-19
Wastewater monitoring
Flu subtype and strain testing
Reported outbreaks
National Data
Find respiratory illnesses activity in the United States:
Respiratory Illness Data Channel (CDC)
Past Weekly Reports
Flu
2025-2026
April 17
April 10
April 3
March 27
March 20
March 13
March 6
February 27
February 20
February 13
February 6
January 30
January 23
January 16
January 9
January 5
December 30
December 19
December 12
December 5
December 1
November 21
November 14
November 7
October 31
October 24
October 17
October 10
COVID
2026
April 15
April 8
April 1
March 25
March 18
March 11
March 4
February 25
February 18
February 11
February 4
January 28
January 21
January 14
January 7
2025
December 31
December 24
December 17
December 10
Dece
mb
er
3
November 26
November 19
November 12
November 5
October 29
October 22
October 15
October 8
October 1
September 24
September 17
September 10
September 3
August 27
August 20
August 13
August 6
July 30
July 23
July 16
July 9
July 2
June 25
June 18
June 11
June 4
May 28
May 21
May 14
May 7
April 30
April 23
April 16
April 9
April 2
March 26
March 19
March 12
March 5
February 26
February 19
February 12
February 5
January 29
January 22
January 15
January 8
Flu End-of-Season Reports
2024-2025
2023-2024
2022-2023
2021-2022
2020-2021
Wastewater Monitoring for Flu and COVID-19
The dashboard shows wastewater testing results for influenza A, the most common seasonal flu virus in humans, and SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Data come from participating water treatment facilities in Burlington, Essex Junction, South Burlington, Middlebury, Montpelier, and Ludlow.
Water samples are collected 1-3 times a week and are tested at either
WastewaterSCAN
or
Verily
laboratories. RSV may be added to the dashboard in the future, as well as additional participating water treatment facilities.
The dashboard is updated every Tuesday, reflecting the prior week's data.
Using the dashboard:
Pick a virus from the Virus box.
Select a site to view its data (blue line) and compare with the statewide trend (red line). Or, leave all sites unchecked to see statewide data.
Adjust the chart time period using the slider.
Click on a site or zoom in on the map to see the sewershed.
Click Download Data to access the raw data.
Wastewater data for measles, mpox, RSV, and H5 Bird Flu (CDC)
FAQs
How does wastewater monitoring work?
Whenever people flush the toilet, wash their hands, take a shower, or spit toothpaste down a drain, they can shed traces of infectious diseases if they are infected—even if they have no symptoms. The pieces of virus, bacteria or fungus travel from the drain through the sewage system.
In a wastewater monitoring (or surveillance) program, wastewater operators take a sample of the water before it’s treated and send it to a lab for testing. The lab tests the water samples to detect and report on different types of infections that are in the water from that community.
Learn more about how it works (CDC)
Why monitor wastewater?
Wastewater data can provide a community-level perspective on what diseases are circulating locally, without relying on people visiting a doctor or getting tested for an infectious disease.
Monitoring wastewater can be an early warning for public health, medical professionals, and the public of the presence of infectious diseases. It can also detect the start of seasonal viruses, or later, show that the spread is slowing down.
The results from wastewater monitoring help public health officials better understand disease trends in communities and take actions, such as providing guidance on how to prevent infections, or increasing testing or vaccination options.
What should I do if activity levels in my area are high?
While the data doesn't show how many people are actually sick or needing medical care, high or increasing virus levels may mean that there is an increased risk of infection. Take simple steps to
protect yourself
and others. Wash your hands often, wear a mask in crowded places, stay up to date on vaccines, and be extra careful around people at higher risk of serious illness.
How accurate is wastewater monitoring for tracking viruses?
Wastewater monitoring shows how much virus is circulating in a community, whether or not people are showing symptoms. The data gives us a general picture of what’s happening, but it represents only a sample of the population.
For example, people using septic systems, disposable diapers, or who are connected to water treatment facilities not participating in the program may not be represented in the data.
Other environmental factors, like heavy rain or snowmelt, can also affect wastewater virus levels.
Last Updated:
April 22, 2026
Skip to main content
MENU
x
CLOSE
Translations for you
Respiratory Illness Activity in Vermont
Respiratory Illnesses
Flu, COVID & RSV Vaccines
Preventing Respiratory Illnesses
What to do if you're sick
Respiratory Illness Activity in Vermont
Respiratory Illness Clinical Guidance for Health Care Providers
Outbreak Information for Schools and Group Living Settings
Respiratory Illness Communications Materials
Virus Levels in Your Community
Wastewater data helps us understand
how flu and COVID-19 viruses might be changing or spreading
in the community, even before people start to feel sick. When levels are high or increasing in your area, it may be a good time to take extra steps to protect yourself from getting sick.
Our interactive dashboard displays up-to-date wastewater monitoring data from samples collected at wastewater treatment facilities across Vermont.
See the Wastewater Monitoring Dashboard
Weekly flu report
Weekly COVID report
Explore vaccine data
How We Monitor Illness Activity
The Health Department monitors flu and COVID-19 activity and vaccine coverage in the state throughout the year. Timely data helps us understand how diseases are spreading. We collaborate with health care providers, laboratories, clinics, emergency departments, CDC, and other state health departments to track measures like:
Emergency department visits for flu-like illness
Emergency department visits among people with confirmed COVID-19
Wastewater monitoring
Flu subtype and strain testing
Reported outbreaks
National Data
Find respiratory illnesses activity in the United States:
Respiratory Illness Data Channel (CDC)
Past Weekly Reports
Flu
2025-2026
April 17
April 10
April 3
March 27
March 20
March 13
March 6
February 27
February 20
February 13
February 6
January 30
January 23
January 16
January 9
January 5
December 30
December 19
December 12
December 5
December 1
November 21
November 14
November 7
October 31
October 24
October 17
October 10
COVID
2026
April 15
April 8
April 1
March 25
March 18
March 11
March 4
February 25
February 18
February 11
February 4
January 28
January 21
January 14
January 7
2025
December 31
December 24
December 17
December 10
Dece
mb
er
3
November 26
November 19
November 12
November 5
October 29
October 22
October 15
October 8
October 1
September 24
September 17
September 10
September 3
August 27
August 20
August 13
August 6
July 30
July 23
July 16
July 9
July 2
June 25
June 18
June 11
June 4
May 28
May 21
May 14
May 7
April 30
April 23
April 16
April 9
April 2
March 26
March 19
March 12
March 5
February 26
February 19
February 12
February 5
January 29
January 22
January 15
January 8
Flu End-of-Season Reports
2024-2025
2023-2024
2022-2023
2021-2022
2020-2021
Wastewater Monitoring for Flu and COVID-19
The dashboard shows wastewater testing results for influenza A, the most common seasonal flu virus in humans, and SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Data come from participating water treatment facilities in Burlington, Essex Junction, South Burlington, Middlebury, Montpelier, and Ludlow.
Water samples are collected 1-3 times a week and are tested at either
WastewaterSCAN
or
Verily
laboratories. RSV may be added to the dashboard in the future, as well as additional participating water treatment facilities.
The dashboard is updated every Tuesday, reflecting the prior week's data.
Using the dashboard:
Pick a virus from the Virus box.
Select a site to view its data (blue line) and compare with the statewide trend (red line). Or, leave all sites unchecked to see statewide data.
Adjust the chart time period using the slider.
Click on a site or zoom in on the map to see the sewershed.
Click Download Data to access the raw data.
Wastewater data for measles, mpox, RSV, and H5 Bird Flu (CDC)
FAQs
How does wastewater monitoring work?
Whenever people flush the toilet, wash their hands, take a shower, or spit toothpaste down a drain, they can shed traces of infectious diseases if they are infected—even if they have no symptoms. The pieces of virus, bacteria or fungus travel from the drain through the sewage system.
In a wastewater monitoring (or surveillance) program, wastewater operators take a sample of the water before it’s treated and send it to a lab for testing. The lab tests the water samples to detect and report on different types of infections that are in the water from that community.
Learn more about how it works (CDC)
Why monitor wastewater?
Wastewater data can provide a community-level perspective on what diseases are circulating locally, without relying on people visiting a doctor or getting tested for an infectious disease.
Monitoring wastewater can be an early warning for public health, medical professionals, and the public of the presence of infectious diseases. It can also detect the start of seasonal viruses, or later, show that the spread is slowing down.
The results from wastewater monitoring help public health officials better understand disease trends in communities and take actions, such as providing guidance on how to prevent infections, or increasing testing or vaccination options.
What should I do if activity levels in my area are high?
While the data doesn't show how many people are actually sick or needing medical care, high or increasing virus levels may mean that there is an increased risk of infection. Take simple steps to
protect yourself
and others. Wash your hands often, wear a mask in crowded places, stay up to date on vaccines, and be extra careful around people at higher risk of serious illness.
How accurate is wastewater monitoring for tracking viruses?
Wastewater monitoring shows how much virus is circulating in a community, whether or not people are showing symptoms. The data gives us a general picture of what’s happening, but it represents only a sample of the population.
For example, people using septic systems, disposable diapers, or who are connected to water treatment facilities not participating in the program may not be represented in the data.
Other environmental factors, like heavy rain or snowmelt, can also affect wastewater virus levels.
Last Updated:
April 22, 2026