Several illnesses are circulating in Georgia right now, with flu, COVID-19, norovirus, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) all contributing to the wave of sickness residents are experiencing. Flu activity has been particularly notable, driven by a strain called subclade K that’s hitting communities hard. Here’s what’s going around, how to tell these illnesses apart, and what you can do about it.
Flu Is a Major Driver This Season
Influenza remains one of the biggest concerns in Georgia. CDC surveillance maps have shown activity levels ranging from moderate to very high across southeastern states during the current season. This year’s dominant flu strain, known as subclade K, behaves like traditional influenza but has been spreading efficiently through communities.
The hallmark of flu is its sudden onset. Unlike a cold that creeps in over a day or two, the flu hits fast. You can often pinpoint the exact moment you started feeling sick. The three core symptoms are fever, cough, and runny nose, but most people also experience body aches, headache, fatigue, and chills. Children are more likely than adults to have vomiting and diarrhea alongside respiratory symptoms.
COVID-19 Is Still Circulating
COVID-19 hasn’t disappeared, but tracking it has changed significantly. As of January 2025, COVID is no longer a nationally notifiable disease, meaning individual cases are no longer reported to the Georgia Department of Public Health or the CDC. That makes it harder to know exact case counts, but wastewater surveillance and emergency department data confirm the virus is still present in communities statewide.
COVID tends to feel different from the flu in one key way: it builds gradually. Rather than the sudden fever spike of influenza, COVID symptoms usually ramp up over a couple of days, often starting with a scratchy throat or fatigue before progressing to congestion, cough, and sometimes fever. Loss of taste or smell, while less common with newer variants, still occurs in some people. The Georgia Department of Public Health has been awaiting updated CDC guidance on the 2025-2026 COVID vaccine, and health departments were instructed to discontinue the previous season’s vaccine to avoid errors. Check with your local pharmacy or health department about current vaccine availability.
Norovirus and Stomach Bugs
If your household is dealing with sudden vomiting and diarrhea rather than respiratory symptoms, norovirus is the most likely culprit. Norovirus is the leading cause of vomiting, diarrhea, and foodborne illness in the United States, and its peak season runs from December through March. CDC data through February 2026 shows the current seasonal year’s outbreak numbers fall within the typical range compared to the past 12 seasons, so activity is neither unusually high nor unusually low.
Norovirus spreads incredibly easily through contaminated food, surfaces, and close contact with sick people. Symptoms come on fast, usually 12 to 48 hours after exposure, and most people recover within one to three days. The biggest risk is dehydration, especially for young children and older adults. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are not very effective against norovirus. Washing your hands thoroughly with soap and water is the best defense, along with disinfecting surfaces with bleach-based cleaners.
RSV and Other Respiratory Viruses
RSV circulates alongside flu and COVID during the cooler months and is particularly concerning for infants and older adults. Like COVID, RSV tends to start gradually rather than hitting all at once. It typically begins with congestion and a mild cough before potentially progressing to wheezing or difficulty breathing in vulnerable groups. For most healthy adults, RSV feels like a bad cold and resolves on its own within a week or two.
How to Tell These Illnesses Apart
The overlap in symptoms makes it tough to self-diagnose, but timing and onset pattern offer useful clues:
- Flu: Sudden onset of high fever, body aches, cough, and fatigue. You feel fine one hour and terrible the next.
- COVID-19: Gradual buildup over one to two days. Sore throat and fatigue often come first, followed by congestion and cough.
- RSV: Also gradual. Congestion and cough are prominent, and wheezing is more common than with flu or COVID.
- Norovirus: Primarily gastrointestinal. Vomiting and watery diarrhea dominate, with little to no respiratory symptoms.
Combination tests for flu and COVID are widely available at pharmacies and urgent care clinics. If you’re unsure what you’re dealing with, testing can help guide whether antiviral treatment might shorten your illness.
Invasive Strep A Infections
While not as widespread as flu or norovirus, invasive group A streptococcal infections have been on public health radar in Georgia. A notable increase in cases was documented in parts of the state beginning in late 2022, with cases peaking in spring 2023. These infections go beyond a typical strep throat. When group A strep bacteria enter parts of the body where bacteria don’t normally exist (the bloodstream, muscles, or lungs), they can become life-threatening.
The populations most affected have been elderly adults and young children. In Georgia’s District 2, 54% of invasive cases were reported from local healthcare facilities. Black and Hispanic communities were disproportionately impacted, with incidence rates roughly double or more compared to other groups. While routine strep throat is common and treatable, any strep infection accompanied by rapidly worsening pain, spreading redness, high fever, or dizziness warrants urgent medical attention.
Tick-Borne Diseases to Watch For
Georgia’s warm climate means ticks are active for much of the year, and tick-borne diseases have been reported in every season. The most common ones in the state include spotted fever rickettsiosis (which includes Rocky Mountain spotted fever), Lyme disease, ehrlichiosis, and anaplasmosis. Risk increases between early spring and late fall, but cases can occur year-round.
If you’ve been outdoors and develop a fever, headache, or rash days to weeks later, mention any possible tick exposure to your healthcare provider. Early treatment for tick-borne infections is straightforward and highly effective, but delays can lead to serious complications. Checking your body for ticks after spending time in wooded or grassy areas remains the simplest form of prevention.
Protecting Yourself During Peak Season
Most of the illnesses currently circulating in Georgia are preventable or at least manageable with basic precautions. Frequent handwashing with soap and water protects against both respiratory viruses and norovirus. Staying home when you’re sick, even if symptoms feel mild, reduces transmission to people who may be more vulnerable.
Vaccines remain available for flu, COVID-19, and RSV. The flu vaccine is your best protection against subclade K and other circulating strains. For RSV, vaccines are recommended for adults 60 and older and for pregnant individuals to protect newborns. If you haven’t been vaccinated this season, pharmacies and county health departments across Georgia offer all three.