Had a miserable flu season? Experts say the illness is waning in Sacramento

After a seemingly long respiratory virus season, health experts indicate it is finally winding down as warm weather returns to the Sacramento area.

Dr. Dean Blumberg, chief of pediatric infectious diseases at UC Davis Health, said the outlook for some of the main respiratory illnesses seen throughout winter — flu, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and human metapneumovirus (HMPV) — is improving after a relatively long season.

However, as warmer temperatures approach, other respiratory infections and allergy symptoms are expected to take over, with more coughing and sniffling on the horizon.

Here’s what to know about what’s making you sick.

Is the flu getting better in Sacramento?

According to Blumberg, the flu appears to be subsiding after a strong year.

Data from the California Department of Public Health showed influenza test positivity, emergency department visits and hospital admissions are trending down since a peak in early February.

Test positivity hit a high of 22% in early February, as the late-season Influenza B rose in prevalence.

Blumberg said that although the flu vaccine was less effective than usual at preventing illness this year, it remained a strong defense against severe infection and hospitalization.

In the 2025-2026 season, only five pediatric influenza deaths have been reported on the CDPH website as of late March. Though the season data is incomplete — as it runs through the end of June — the figure is still significantly lower than the 44 pediatric flu deaths the state reported in the 2024-2025 season.

Is the RSV season ending?

According to Blumberg, RSV faced a particularly late season this winter.

The CDPH respiratory illness report showed test positivity for the virus began climbing in November, where in previous years it kicks off weeks or months earlier.

RSV test positivity in California finally hit a peak in February and March, and started to trend downward at the end of the month. In the past two seasons, the test positivity peak hit between November and January, marking an unusual season during 2025-2026.

Additionally, HMPV had a recent spike, according to Sacramento-area wastewater monitoring data, but it appears to be easing up. The virus is similar to RSV, but can cause more severe symptoms in young children under 2 years old, according to UC Davis Health.

How severe was COVID-19 this illness season?

The COVID-19 illness had a mild winter after seeing a notable surge in test positivity and hospitalizations at the end of summer 2025.

Test positivity for the virus has stayed under 1.5% since mid-November, according to CDPH data. An August case surge peaked at more than 10% positivity. Hospital admissions and emergency department visits for COVID-19 have been similarly low this winter.

A new variant, BA.3.2, nicknamed “Cicada,” is on the rise, but Blumberg said he isn’t sounding the alarm on a spike in cases yet.

Blumberg said BA.3.2 is currently responsible for between 10%-12% of COVID-19 infections in the region currently, which is not enough for a notable spike. A point of concern would be if the variant is attributed to at least 50% of infections, Blumberg said.

The pediatric doctor said he doesn’t currently predict BA.3.2 will lead to a proper surge, but he said cases in the summer may rise slightly.

COVID-19 booster vaccines for the 2025-2026 season may still be available at area pharmacies, and Blumberg said if an updated booster is needed going into the summer respiratory illness season, May or June would be an ideal time to receive one.

What respiratory illnesses are spreading in Sacramento now?

Rhinovirus, which causes the common cold, is becoming more prevalent in the capital region this spring as the flu season winds down, Blumberg said.

Looking into the upcoming illness season, Blumberg said enteroviruses are expected to increase soon. This type of virus can lead to the common cold and hand, foot, and mouth disease in young children. Additionally, Blumberg said a recent rise in cases of pertussis — or whooping cough — could indicate an uptick in circulation during the summer and fall respiratory season.

Besides virus-caused symptoms, allergy symptoms from tree pollen are on the rise, Blumberg said. As temperatures rose higher than ever before in March, trees began blossoming and releasing pollen earlier than usual.

As with most respiratory illnesses, Blumberg urges people to practice good hand hygiene and cover their cough to avoid the spread of viruses. He said wearing a face mask, particularly in crowded settings, remains a good mitigation method as well.

Camila Pedrosa

The Sacramento Bee

Camila Pedrosa is the California Diversions Reporter at The Sacramento Bee. She previously worked on The Bee’s service journalism team and was a summer reporting intern for The Bee in 2024. She graduated from Arizona State University with a master’s degree in mass communication.