Fall in Mesa County heralds many welcome changes, like an abundance of colorful leaves and a less blistering sun.

Like the rest of the nation, however, the fall season also ushers in an uptick of respiratory illnesses.

Most people know that the flu and similar viruses are more common in fall and winter, but discerning which exact illnesses are rising in a community, or how they’re impacting residents, can be difficult.

Mesa County Public Health made that possible with the recent launch of a dashboard that tracks hospitalizations in the county for the flu, COVID-19 and RSV (respiratory syncytial virus).

“Communicating health information and data is a core part of public health,” an agency spokesperson said. “It’s our responsibility to use best practices in data science and to share the

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