'Tis the season of vigorous handwashing and using copious amounts of hand sanitizer as Americans try to avoid getting sick before the holidays.
If it seems like everyone around you is constantly sniffling, sneezing, coughing, or calling out of work, it's likely because the first act of flu and cold season is rearing its ugly head. Common winter illnesses, including COVID-19 , influenza and norovirus , AKA the stomach bug, are circulating in schools, workplaces and communities across the country.
Health agencies like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention use wastewater data − collected by measuring the presence of pathogens in water sources such as sewage, industrial waste, and stormwater runoff − to monitor illnesses that are spreading and those that are predicted to spread in the future.
Hoping to stay healthy for the holidays? Here's what to know:
Seasonal sickness on the rise: Tips to prevent winter's germs
