Respiratory Trend Report

Week ending March 22nd, 2026

HealthTrackRx
Trend Update

This final edition of the 2025-2026 respiratory trend reports will look back at the full respiratory season and compare it to what was seen in the prior 2024-2025 season.

Respiratory Trend Report

Week ending March 22nd, 2026

Get Updates

HealthTrackRx
Trend Update

This final edition of the 2025-2026 respiratory trend reports will look back at the full respiratory season and compare it to what was seen in the prior 2024-2025 season.

Key Takeaways

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) circulation began later and had a lower peak (6.8%) during the 2025-2026 season than observed during the 2024-2025 season (10.2%).
Influenza virus A/B prevalence began increasing in late November 2025, continuing to remain at elevated levels until it began declining in February 2026. This trend was similarly observed during the 2024-2025 respiratory season. Although Influenza A/B prevalence is steadily declining, there continues to be increased circulation compared to March 2025. Indicating respiratory season is continuing to stretch into the early spring months.
Parainfluenza Viruses (Types 1–4) typically peaks in the spring, with the highest prevalence documented in May during 2024 and 2025. However, this season (2025-2026) parainfluenza peaked in November 2025 at 8.3%, exhibiting atypical patterns of circulation.
COVID-19 virus was less prevalent this year than last year, peaking at 9.2% positivity in the late summer, compared to 15.1% positivity during the 2024-2025 respiratory season. Consistent with last year, COVID-19 circulation remained predominant in July through September, declining into the fall and remaining under 3% during the winter months.

Key Takeaways

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) circulation began later and had a lower peak (6.8%) during the 2025-2026 season than observed during the 2024-2025 season (10.2%).
Influenza virus A/B prevalence began increasing in late November 2025, continuing to remain at elevated levels until it began declining in February 2026. This trend was similarly observed during the 2024-2025 respiratory season. Although Influenza A/B prevalence is steadily declining, there continues to be increased circulation compared to March 2025. Indicating respiratory season is continuing to stretch into the early spring months.
Parainfluenza Viruses (Types 1–4) typically peaks in the spring, with the highest prevalence documented in May during 2024 and 2025. However, this season (2025-2026) parainfluenza peaked in November 2025 at 8.3%, exhibiting atypical patterns of circulation.
COVID-19 virus was less prevalent this year than last year, peaking at 9.2% positivity in the late summer, compared to 15.1% positivity during the 2024-2025 respiratory season. Consistent with last year, COVID-19 circulation remained predominant in July through September, declining into the fall and remaining under 3% during the winter months.

HealthTrackRx Trend Update

As we head into the warmer months, the off-season viruses are starting to increase in positivity; these include Human metapneumovirus, Rhinovirus/Enterovirus, Parainfluenza Virus (Types 1-4), and Adenovirus.

Human metapneumovirus continues to be a late season respiratory virus, where it peaked towards April during the 2024-2025 respiratory season, and is on trajectory to repeat this pattern this season with the highest positivity rate at 5.2% in March 2026.

Rhinovirus/Enterovirus circulation is similar to the previous year’s, with a peak positivity rate in the Fall followed by a steady decline. Like previous respiratory seasons, Rhinovirus/Enterovirus prevalence increases around times of seasonal changes. Providers should anticipate a potential surge in Rhinovirus/Enterovirus around the transition from spring to summer this year.

Parainfluenza is considered a year-round respiratory infection, and it would not be unreasonable to anticipate another Parainfluenza surge in the coming spring/early summer months for the 2025-2026 respiratory season.

HealthTrackRx Trend Update

As we head into the warmer months, the off-season viruses are starting to increase in positivity; these include Human metapneumovirus, Rhinovirus/Enterovirus, Parainfluenza Virus (Types 1-4), and Adenovirus.

Human metapneumovirus continues to be a late season respiratory virus, where it peaked towards April during the 2024-2025 respiratory season, and is on trajectory to repeat this pattern this season with the highest positivity rate at 5.2% in March 2026.

Rhinovirus/Enterovirus circulation is similar to the previous year’s, with a peak positivity rate in the Fall followed by a steady decline. Like previous respiratory seasons, Rhinovirus/Enterovirus prevalence increases around times of seasonal changes. Providers should anticipate a potential surge in Rhinovirus/Enterovirus around the transition from spring to summer this year.

Parainfluenza is considered a year-round respiratory infection, and it would not be unreasonable to anticipate another Parainfluenza surge in the coming spring/early summer months for the 2025-2026 respiratory season.

Trending Up