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The United States is currently experiencing a brief respite in its ongoing battle against a surge of respiratory illnesses, including flu, Covid-19, and RSV, according to the latest data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

However, health experts are cautioning that this decrease in flu activity, observed for the first time in several weeks, is not indicative of a waning season, and further spikes are expected.

Janet Hamilton, executive director of the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists, observed that a post-holiday decrease in reported cases is typical.

"It's actually pretty common that we see a little bit of a dip around the holidays, but we typically see an increase after that - because people will delay seeking care, and lots of people get exposed to different things through holiday travel," Hamilton explained via CNN.

This sentiment was echoed by Dr. Eduardo Azziz-Baumgartner of the CDC's Influenza Division and Dr. Céline Gounder, a CBS News medical contributor, both highlighting the likelihood of an upcoming upsurge in flu cases in their statements published by CBS News.

As of early January, respiratory virus activity remains high or very high in most states, excluding only 15. The CDC's Center for Forecasting and Outbreak Analytics has suggested that this season's hospitalizations due to respiratory diseases could match those of the last season. While hospital capacity is currently stable, some regions have reported strains on resources due to the increase in respiratory illnesses.

Flu, overtaking Covid-19, has become the leading cause of emergency room visits related to respiratory viruses. The CDC estimates the flu has caused at least 14 million illnesses, 150,000 hospitalizations, and 9,400 deaths this season. Notably, Covid-19 hospitalizations have also doubled since November, with nearly 36,000 new cases in the first week of January.

Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious disease expert at Vanderbilt University, emphasized the prolonged nature of the virus season, telling CNN: "There's still a substantial amount of respiratory virus season to go. These viruses, to one degree or another, will be with us through the end of this month and well into February."

The CDC continues to recommend flu vaccinations, which have been particularly effective this season, especially for children under 10. Despite this, less than half of the U.S. population has received a flu shot, and vaccination rates for the latest Covid-19 vaccine are even lower.

In closing, Schaffner advised, "If you haven't been vaccinated, yes, it's very late, but it's not too late. Don't linger -- get the vaccines this afternoon." He also recommended practical measures like wearing masks in crowded places to mitigate the spread of these highly contagious viruses.

This ongoing respiratory virus season serves as a reminder of the importance of vaccinations and the need for continued vigilance in the face of fluctuating infection rates.