Respiratory illness activity in Ohio is currently at a moderate level, but the trend is declining. COVID-19, influenza, and RSV are all registering at very low levels in wastewater surveillance as of late February 2026, suggesting the worst of the winter respiratory season has passed. That said, several illnesses are still circulating, and stomach bugs have been notably active this season.
Respiratory Viruses: COVID, Flu, and RSV
All three major respiratory viruses are at very low levels in Ohio’s wastewater data, which tracks viral particles in sewage to estimate how much virus is circulating in communities. The overall respiratory illness rate, measured by emergency department visits, is moderate but actively declining, with a reproduction rate of 0.92. That number means each sick person is, on average, infecting fewer than one other person, so cases are shrinking rather than growing.
If you’re dealing with a cough, sore throat, body aches, or fever right now, a respiratory virus is still a possibility, but you’re less likely to catch one than you were a month or two ago. Symptoms of all three viruses overlap heavily: fever, congestion, fatigue, and cough. COVID tends to include loss of taste or smell more often, while RSV hits hardest in young children and older adults with wheezing and difficulty breathing. Flu typically comes on suddenly with high fever and intense body aches.
Norovirus Has Been Unusually Active
If what’s “going around” in your household involves vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach cramps, norovirus is the most likely culprit. Ohio is part of the CDC’s NoroSTAT surveillance network, and nationally the 2025-26 season has seen several weeks of outbreak counts well above the historical average. The week of October 31 saw 35 reported outbreaks across reporting states, compared to a typical range of 13 to 24. November continued that pattern, with multiple weeks exceeding the 75th percentile of historical activity.
By mid-January, weekly outbreak counts were running in the 40s and 50s. While those numbers represent the full reporting network (14 states, not Ohio alone), the pattern reflects broad regional circulation. Norovirus spreads incredibly easily through close contact, contaminated food, and surfaces. Symptoms usually hit 12 to 48 hours after exposure and last one to three days. The biggest risk is dehydration, especially in young children and older adults. Alcohol-based hand sanitizer is not very effective against norovirus. Washing your hands with soap and water is the single best defense.
Strep Throat and Bacterial Infections
Strep throat remains one of the most common reasons Ohioans visit a doctor in late winter and early spring, particularly children between ages 5 and 15. Individual cases of strep throat are not reportable to Ohio’s health department, so there’s no public dashboard tracking how many people have it at any given time. But it circulates heavily every year during colder months, with the CDC estimating several million cases of non-invasive group A strep infections (strep throat and impetigo) nationally each year.
The hallmarks of strep throat are a sudden, severe sore throat without a cough, painful swallowing, fever, and swollen lymph nodes. If you or your child has those symptoms, a rapid strep test at a clinic can confirm it in minutes. Strep is treated with antibiotics, and most people feel significantly better within 24 to 48 hours of starting treatment. Invasive group A strep infections, which are far more serious and involve the bloodstream, lungs, or deeper tissues, cause an estimated 20,000 to 27,000 cases nationally per year.
Tick-Borne Illness Is Starting Early
Ohio has already recorded 69 Lyme disease cases as of early March 2026, with an incidence rate of 7.18 per population unit. That’s worth paying attention to if you spend time outdoors, especially in wooded or grassy areas. Ticks become active when temperatures consistently rise above freezing, and Ohio’s tick season typically runs from April through October, though mild winters can push that window earlier.
Lyme disease starts with flu-like symptoms (fatigue, fever, headaches, joint pain) and often, but not always, produces a distinctive bull’s-eye rash at the bite site. If caught early, it responds well to antibiotics. The best prevention is using insect repellent, wearing long sleeves and pants in wooded areas, and doing a full-body tick check after spending time outside. Pay special attention to the scalp, armpits, and behind the knees.
Allergies vs. Illness
As Ohio moves into spring, seasonal allergies can mimic some of the same symptoms as a mild cold: sneezing, runny nose, congestion, and itchy or watery eyes. The key differences are that allergies rarely cause fever, body aches, or a productive cough. If your symptoms get worse outdoors or follow a predictable daily pattern (worse in the morning, better after rain), allergies are the more likely explanation. Tree pollen is typically the first major trigger in Ohio, starting in March and peaking in April, followed by grass pollen through late spring and summer.
How to Protect Yourself Right Now
The basics still work. Wash your hands with soap and water frequently, especially before eating and after being in public spaces. This is particularly important for norovirus prevention, where hand sanitizer falls short. Stay home when you’re symptomatic to avoid spreading illness to others.
Ohio’s immunization program covers 17 vaccine-preventable diseases, including influenza, COVID-19, and pneumonia. If you haven’t gotten your annual flu or updated COVID vaccine this season, it’s not too late to reduce your risk of severe illness, though effectiveness is highest when you’re vaccinated before peak season. For parents, keeping children up to date on routine immunizations also protects against pertussis (whooping cough), measles, and rotavirus, all of which circulate in Ohio.