Respiratory virus season in review, increase in flu hospitalizations
The 2025-2026 respiratory virus season brought significant challenges to our community. Mesa County Public Health (MCPH) is sharing a comprehensive look at how flu, COVID-19, and RSV impacted our neighbors, families, and overall health.
Key trends from this season
“This season, we saw a significant increase in flu activity compared to recent respiratory seasons,” said Kathleen Satterfield, Epidemiologist Supervisor. “The flu is a seasonal illness, and patterns can shift from year to year, but this year stood out for its severity.”
Mesa County recorded 287 respiratory virus-related hospitalizations between October 1, 2025 and March 31, 2026.
Viral respiratory illness |
Number of associated hospitalizations |
|
Flu |
158 |
|
COVID-19 |
76 |
|
RSV |
70 |
Flu activity increased sharply during December, driving the season’s peak in hospitalizations.
“Hospitalizations give us a clearer picture of who’s most affected and how serious the outcomes can be,” Satterfield said. “This allows us to better protect high-risk populations and adjust our response accordingly.”
MCPH’s disease surveillance team also investigated 38 respiratory illness outbreaks since October — a significant increase compared to 11 outbreaks during the previous season. Of those investigations, 22 outbreaks were flu-related.
A look at year-over-year trends
This year’s flu season was significantly more severe than recent years, with a notable increase in flu-associated hospitalizations. You can compare trends over the last five years in the table below. It’s important to note that healthcare facilities started reporting hospitalizations due to RSV starting in the 2023-2024 season.
Respiratory Illness Season |
Flu-related hospitalizations |
COVID-19-related hospitalizations |
RSV-related hospitalizations |
2025-2026 |
158 |
75 |
70 |
2024-2025 |
121 |
82 |
74 |
2023-2024 |
92 |
201 |
79 |
2022-2023 |
108 |
246 |
0 |
2021-2022 |
9 |
722 |
0 |
Prevention remains key
Prevention remains important year-round, not just during peak respiratory illness season. MCPH encourages community members to take simple steps to stay healthy:
- Stay home when sick
- Wash hands frequently
- Stay up to date on vaccines
Our disease surveillance team will continue to monitor illness trends in our community. Visit our website for information about other diseases our team monitors.
Media Inquiries, contact:
Sarah Gray
Public Health
Communication and Marketing Manager
970-697-4611
