Respiratory Illness Activity in Vermont

Virus Levels in Your Community

Wastewater data helps us understand how flu and COVID-19 viruses might be changing or spreading in the community, even before people start to feel sick. When levels are high or increasing in your area, it may be a good time to take extra steps to protect yourself from getting sick.

Our interactive dashboard displays up-to-date wastewater monitoring data from samples collected at wastewater treatment facilities across Vermont.

See the Wastewater Monitoring Dashboard

Weekly activity reports began October 10

Weekly flu report

Weekly COVID Report

Explore vaccine data

How We Monitor Illness Activity

The Health Department monitors flu and COVID-19 activity and vaccine coverage in the state throughout the year. Timely data helps us understand how diseases are spreading. We collaborate with health care providers, laboratories, clinics, emergency departments, CDC, and other state health departments to track measures like:

Emergency department visits for flu-like illness
Emergency department visits among people with confirmed COVID-19
Wastewater monitoring
Flu subtype and strain testing
Reported outbreaks

National Data

Find respiratory illnesses activity in the United States: Respiratory Illness Data Channel (CDC)

Wastewater Monitoring for Flu and COVID-19

The dashboard shows wastewater testing results for influenza A, the most common seasonal flu virus in humans, and SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Data come from participating water treatment facilities in Essex Junction, South Burlington, Middlebury, Montpelier, and Ludlow.

Water samples are collected 1-3 times a week and are tested at either WastewaterSCAN or Verily laboratories. RSV may be added to the dashboard in the future, as well as additional participating water treatment facilities.

The dashboard is updated every Tuesday, reflecting the prior week's data.

Using the dashboard:

Pick a virus from the Virus box.
Select a site to view its data (blue line) and compare with the statewide trend (red line). Or, leave all sites unchecked to see statewide data.
Adjust the chart time period using the slider.
Click on a site or zoom in on the map to see the sewershed.
Click Download Data to access the raw data.

FAQs

How does wastewater monitoring work?

Whenever people flush the toilet, wash their hands, take a shower, or spit toothpaste down a drain, they can shed traces of infectious diseases if they are infected—even if they have no symptoms. The pieces of virus, bacteria or fungus travel from the drain through the sewage system.

In a wastewater monitoring (or surveillance) program, wastewater operators take a sample of the water before it’s treated and send it to a lab for testing. The lab tests the water samples to detect and report on different types of infections that are in the water from that community.

Learn more about how it works (CDC)

Why monitor wastewater?

Wastewater data can provide a community-level perspective on what diseases are circulating locally, without relying on people visiting a doctor or getting tested for an infectious disease.

Monitoring wastewater can be an early warning for public health, medical professionals, and the public of the presence of infectious diseases. It can also detect the start of seasonal viruses, or later, show that the spread is slowing down.

The results from wastewater monitoring help public health officials better understand disease trends in communities and take actions, such as providing guidance on how to prevent infections, or increasing testing or vaccination options.

What should I do if activity levels in my area are high?

While the data doesn't show how many people are actually sick or needing medical care, high or increasing virus levels may mean that there is an increased risk of infection. Take simple steps to protect yourself and others. Wash your hands often, wear a mask in crowded places, stay up to date on vaccines, and be extra careful around people at higher risk of serious illness.

How accurate is wastewater monitoring for tracking viruses?

Wastewater monitoring shows how much virus is circulating in a community, whether or not people are showing symptoms. The data gives us a general picture of what’s happening, but it represents only a sample of the population.

For example, people using septic systems, disposable diapers, or who are connected to water treatment facilities not participating in the program may not be represented in the data.

Other environmental factors, like heavy rain or snowmelt, can also affect wastewater virus levels.