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Health
Craig Helmstetter

Flu, COVID-19 and whooping cough down, norovirus still up

Highest weekly COVID-19 mortality in nearly a year

Hospital admissions from flu, COVID-19 and RSV in Minnesota
The latest preliminary data from the Minnesota Department of Health show weekly hospital admissions dropping for flu, COVID-19 and RSV.
APM Research Lab

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Need some good news? The state’s recent spike in hospitalizations due to influenza have now fallen sharply for two consecutive weeks. After a far less dramatic uptick in respiratory syncytial virus, preliminary data shows a downtick in RSV hospitalizations as well.  

This is according to the data issued Thursday by the Minnesota Department of Health, which also shows COVID-19 related hospitalizations have fallen for two weeks. Wastewater data from the University of Minnesota also shows statewide COVID-19 levels falling for the most recent two week period. 

In even more good news, the department’s data indicates that, after a big surge in pertussis cases (better known as whooping cough) that peaked around Thanksgiving, the drop in late 2024 has been sustained in early 2025.  

Pertussis cases by week in Minnesota
After a surge in the whooping cough in October and November, cases have fallen in December and January.
Minnesota Department of Health

The communicable disease picture is not all rosy in the state, however.  

The January norovirus outbreaks that we reported for “the winter vomiting bug” just two weeks ago has now increased from 26 to 91 outbreaks — which together have involved 2,499 sick individuals. That is an increase from the already way-above-average norovirus statistics that the department reported for December: 84 outbreaks involving a total of 2,021 known cases. 

Norovirus outbreaks in Minnesota by month
January saw an even higher number of norovirus outbreaks than December in Minnesota.
Minnesota Department of Health

Even the downward trend in COVID-19 activity is not without an unfortunate footnote. Preliminary data for the week ending Jan. 11 shows that 33 Minnesotans lost their lives due at least in part to COVID-19. That is the state’s highest weekly COVID-19 mortality report since Feb. 2024.  

While the preliminary mortality data could be revised, and likely upward, it is also likely that COVID-19 deaths will follow hospitalization trends and decrease in weeks to come.

For additional data on influenza, RSV and COVID-19 activity in Minnesota, see: https://www.apmresearchlab.org/covid/mn-key-data.