Influenza, COVID-19 cases on the rise in Central Texas – KEYE TV CBS Austin

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are urging Americans to take holiday health precautions as respiratory viruses continue spreading nationwide. (Photo: CBS Austin)

AUSTIN, Texas

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are urging Americans to take holiday health precautions as respiratory viruses continue spreading nationwide.

Influenza, COVID-19, and RSV are all circulating right now. According to data from the Texas Department of State Health Services, flu activity is considered high and continuing to climb.

"We've noticed definitely a big uptick in flu, a small rise in COVID and still having lingering effects of RSV," said Dr. Vard Curtis, emergency department medical director at St. David's South Austin Medical Center. His ER is seeing typical seasonal increases in respiratory viruses.

"There's a lot of overlap between flu and COVID so the testing is what we rely on. They both cause high fevers, really bad body aches, often cough, sometimes shortness of breath, runny nose, no energy," said Curtis.

The same guidance issued during the pandemic applies now:

"Flu to you and me can be a couple of days of feeling lousy, but flu to an elderly person or someone with a kidney transplant or cancer diagnosis... it can be fatal," said Curtis.

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Statewide, positive flu tests in hospitals are up 5.5 percent from the previous week, according to Texas DSHS. The latest data shows that 15 percent of flu tests in Texas are positive. In Austin, about 10 percent of flu and COVID tests are positive, according to Austin Public Health.

"Know there are a lot of people who are out there doing home testing, so that COVID number may not represent the total number of cases that are out there in the community," said Desmar Walkes, Austin-Travis County Health Authority.

Austin Public Health is urging people to think twice before gathering with others when feeling under the weather.

"We're going to be hugging and sharing meals and laughing and enjoying this holiday season, and its best to do that if you're not sick, so you're not spreading it to loved ones-- especially those that can't fight off infection as well," said Walkes.

According to the CDC, this year's influenza and COVID-19 vaccines are proving to be a pretty good match for the strains of the virus going around. Influenza typically peaks between December and February but flu season lasts until May.

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Influenza, COVID-19 cases on the rise in Central Texas - KEYE TV CBS Austin