Officials with the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) note reports of respiratory illnesses are on the rise throughout the state. According to the Iowa Respiratory Virus surveillance report for the week ending Oct. 15, labs are reporting increasing or high positivity rates for human parainfluenza virus (PIV)and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Both viruses can cause illness in all age groups but typically impact young children, older adults, and individuals with chronic medical conditions more severely. HHS is recommending physicians treating patients with respiratory illness consider PIV and RSV as potential diagnoses. Respiratory diseases typically peak in late fall through early spring, but HHS staff note seasonality has been altered somewhat. For example, Iowa did not have a typical RSV season in late 2020 and peaked early during the 2021 season. The complete Iowa Respiratory Virus Surveillance Report is available below.
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