SF is getting ravaged by multiple viruses. Experts aren't sure why.
SFGATE • • health
Key Points:
- San Francisco is currently experiencing high rates of multiple gastrointestinal and respiratory viruses, including rotavirus, norovirus, human metapneumovirus (HMPV), influenza A and B, and RSV, despite low COVID-19 levels, according to WastewaterSCAN data.
- Rotavirus infections have notably increased in 2026 compared to 2025, potentially due to changes in vaccination recommendations, as the rotavirus vaccine is no longer routinely recommended by the CDC but only advised through shared clinical decision-making.
- The rise in flu hospitalizations in Northern California is attributed to a new flu strain and lower vaccination rates, with the CDC reporting 23,000 deaths and 380,000 hospitalizations nationally this season.
- Experts suggest that reduced public immunity is causing typically winter viruses to persist into spring, emphasizing the importance of hand-washing and staying current on vaccinations, including for flu and rotavirus, to prevent illness.
