Eagle County flu hospitalizations hit highest number since pre-COVID 19 pandemic

This year’s flu season looks like it will be the worst in years.

So far this winter, Eagle County has seen 16 hospitalizations due to the flu, with 15 of those centered around the three-week period surrounding the holidays.

Rebecca Larson, Eagle County Public Health and Environment’s deputy director, delivered an update on the winter 2025-26 cold and flu season to the Eagle County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday morning.

RSV

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (known as RSV) numbers are “pretty steady this year,” Larson said.

The illness, which primarily affects the lungs, often presents like a cold. It can be severe in children and older adults. RSV season begins in the fall and runs through the spring.

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“We’re starting to see maybe an increase there, but overall, pretty steady (numbers) across older adults and younger children,” Larson said. “Most of that because we now have an RSV vaccination.”

The RSV vaccination is safe for people of all ages. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend all adults ages 75 and older and adults ages 50 to 74 who are at increased risk for severe RSV receive the vaccine. Pregnant mothers can receive the vaccine to pass along immunity to their infants.

COVID-19 

COVID-19 “is a year-round constant in our community,” Larson said.

COVID-19 presents through a wide variety of symptoms, including fever, cough, loss of taste/smell, headache and shortness of breath. The infection ranges from mild to severe, and can lead to hospitalization and/or cause long-term effects.

There was an increase in COVID-19 infections in Eagle County in the fall, then a decrease, followed by another increase with the winter holidays.

“COVID-19 vaccination is recommended for everyone six months and older,” Larson said. “It still remains the best protection against severe illness, hospitalization and long Covid.”

Flu

Eagle County is experiencing its worst flu season since before the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I don’t think we’ve seen this type of activity since before 2020,” Larson said. 

There have already been 16 hospitalizations for influenza this winter, with 15 in the three-week period surrounding the holidays.

In 2018, there were nine hospitalizations for the entire flu season.

Influenza A is the strain predominantly circulating. “There has been a little shift in that virus compared to what was in the vaccine, so it’s not a perfect match,” Larson said. “But the vaccine still protects against severe illness and hospitalization.”

Public health officials are now seeing influenza B numbers increase.

The flu vaccine is designed to cover both influenza A and B.

Larson said her main takeaway from the current flu season is that “it’s not too late to get vaccinated.”

The influenza vaccine is offered at health care providers and pharmacies around the county, along with at Eagle County Public Health and Environment.