How likely are you to get sick in Fresno? City ranked among ‘America’s germ capitals’

It’s cold and flu season in California, which means lots of coughing, sneezing and sore throats.

Unfortunately, Fresno is one of the most illness-prone cities in the nation, according to health care company Soliant Health.

Soliant Health studied the 100 most populous cities in the United States to determine where people are most likely to get sick, evaluating factors such as air quality, asthma rates, seasonal pollen allergies and cold and influenza activity.

“While some cities are protected with well-established healthcare systems and cleaner environments, others face heightened risks due to a combination of environmental and lifestyle factors in the colder months. “ Soliant Health said in an Oct. 7 article titled “America’s Germ Capitals: The Cities Where You’re Mostly Like to Get Sick.”

Bakersfield topped the list with a sickness score of 59.10 out of 100.

“Bakersfield suffers from high cold and flu activity, poor air quality and significant asthma prevalence,” Soliant Health said. “Its combination of environmental and health stressors is a perfect recipe for a sniffle-filled season.”

A total of four California cities landed on the list of spots where folks are most likely to get sick. Here’s where they ranked.

Why is Fresno one of America’s germ capitals?

Fresno came in second place with a sickness score of 57.89 out of 100, according to the Soliant Health study.

In the Central Valley city, “The combination of bad air and allergy triggers means you might be dealing with more than just the flu,” Soliant Health said. “Think watery eyes and lots of sneezing, too.”

In the week of Sept. 15, there were 19 cases of the flu variant A H1N1 in Fresno County, according to the Fresno County Public Health Department. There were also seven cases of the variant A H3.

Fresno County no longer reports “aggregated COVID-19 case data” on routine dashboards, it said.

However, the California Public Health Department reported that the coronavirus-related hospital admission level in Fresno County was “low” as of Friday, Oct. 11

According to the state health department’s Respiratory Virus Dashboard, COVID-19 cases in California have dipped in the past 60 days while flu cases are on the rise.

California had a COVID-19 test positivity rate of 5.6% over the past seven days as of Sept. 30, the most recent data available.

The influenza test positivity rate in California was 1.6% as of Sept. 28, the latest data provided by the state public health department.

Which California cities are most illness prone?

Following Bakersfield and Fresno, San Diego was the third most illness-prone city in the nation with a sickness score of 57.64 out of 100, Soliant Health said.

Sacramento was No. 10 with a score of 51.58.

“Cities with the worst air quality, such as Bakersfield and Fresno, consistently rank higher in illness likelihood, demonstrating the impact air quality can have on respiratory and immune systems,” the study said.

Honolulu is the safest city for folks trying to avoid getting sick, according to the study.

Omaha, Nebraska, and Boise ranked second and third, respectively, on the list of most germ-free cities.

What are sickest cities in the US?

These are the 10 cities in the United States where you’re most likely to get sick, according to Soliant Health:

1. Bakersfield
2. Fresno
3. San Diego
4. New York
5. Jackson, Mississippi
6. New Orleans
7. Memphis
8. Augusta, Georgia
9. Baltimore
10. Sacramento

How did health care company come up with rankings?

Soliant Health evaluated cities based on their performance in a total of five categories, awarding equally weighted values for each category. Those values were combined to determine the final rankings.

The categories were:

• Air pollution
• Illness activity
• Asthma
• Public transport germs
• Allergies

Data sources included the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; U.S. Census Bureau and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

How to stay healthy during cold and flu season

Here are some tips for how to stay healthy during the respiratory virus season from the CDC:

• Boost up your immune system
• Avoid close contact
• Get vaccinated
• Wash your hands
• Stay hydrated
• Avoid touching your face

This story was originally published October 11, 2024 at 12:28 PM.

Fernanda Galan

The Fresno Bee

559-441-6005

Fernanda Galan covers Central Valley and California news as The Fresno Bee’s service journalism reporter. Before joining The Bee in 2024, she reported in Milwaukee, Arizona and Los Angeles. She is a graduate of Arizona State’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication.