- Cleveland, OH - The city's industrial history and nearby Lake Erie make for a polluted environment.
The data demonstrates that individuals residing in this environment have the lowest propensity to contract illnesses.
Ranked within the top 10 results, including one that took the number one position.
The team ranked the cities by examining and rating various factors known to lead to winter illnesses, such as low temperature, air quality, population size, and the number of children - whose immune systems are more vulnerable and have a higher likelihood of spreading germs.
All those scores were cumulatively added and each city was assigned a final score. A lower score indicates that the researchers believe a city is healthier, while a higher score suggests it's more likely to experience illness.
Wilmington, North Carolina was the city with the lowest illness incidence on the list, scoring 28.
With a population of 122,000 people, researchers consider the low population density and mild climate as factors that could help prevent the spread of germs.
Rounded out the top five, all scoring 37.
On the other hand, Bakersfield, California was the city with the highest level of germs in the country, which experts attributed to low flu vaccination rates, poor air quality, and a high number of adults with weakened immune systems.
The researchers stated: 'Simple practices like getting vaccinated, adhering to a healthy diet, and engaging in regular physical activity can have a significant impact on shielding yourself from seasonal illnesses.'
, plague the US.
Several states in the country are experiencing high or extremely high respiratory activity.
According to the latest data from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Americans are being significantly affected by the flu. The rate of people testing positive for influenza increased by 30 percent in the past week and hospitalizations reached a total of 38,250.
During the week of January 18, the flu accounted for 5.4% of hospital visits. The following week, that increased to 7%.
An increase in doctor visits for respiratory illnesses was recorded from 5.7 percent during the week of January 18 to seven percent the following week.
Researchers indicated that Wilmington, North Carolina secured the top spot for the healthiest city due to its sparse population density, measured by the number of people living within a given area.
Having a sparsely populated area means there are fewer people in close contact with one another, thereby limiting the exchange of airborne pathogens, hence reducing the dissemination of illnesses such as COVID-19 and the flu.
Wilmington experiences consistently high humidity levels, which contribute to moist nasal passages, an effect caused by increased mucus production.
When nasal passages do not have sufficient mucus, the passageways become irritated, leading to inflammation, and the body becomes more susceptible to respiratory infections such as sinusitis.
According to the American Lung Association, Wilmington boasts the lowest levels of particle matter (PM2.5) pollution in the entire country, referring to the smallest, most irritating contaminants that affect the lungs.
Madison, Wisconsin was ranked as the second healthiest city, scoring 33.7 points.
Researchers highlighted the city's significant improvement in its 69 percent flu vaccination rate amongst the elderly, surpassing the national average of 58 percent in this demographic.
Notably, just 3.5 percent of the city's population lacks health insurance, a much lower rate than the national average of eight percent in the US, indicating that they have far greater access to preventative care.
Honolulu ranked third for its mild climate, which enables the nose to filter out bacteria by increasing mucus production to trap pathogens and encourages residents to spend less time indoors in close proximity.
The remaining top-ranked cities were Raleigh, North Carolina, and San Jose, California.
The researchers pointed to San Jose's low percentage of adults reporting overall poor health and the city's wide availability of healthy food options as evidence that residents may be better shielded from illnesses.
On the other side of the spectrum, Bakersfield, California was named the unfittest city in the analysis, scoring 71.7.
The 413,000-population city's air pollution and low humidity have been identified as the two main reasons for its low ranking.
According to the American Lung Association, Bakersfield ranked as the metropolitan area with the highest levels of particulate matter and pollution out of over 200 locations.
The researchers stated: 'The city also experiences a significant population of adults with poor or fair health and a high incidence of physical distress, both of which can signal impaired immune systems and increased susceptibility to infections.'
McAllen, Texas, ranked second-to-last, with a score of 70.9.
Bordering Mexico to the south, the city of McAllen boasts a high proportion of uninsured adults.
According to a recent analysis, nearly a quarter of the adult population in the area were without insurance in 2023. This could be attributed to the fact that almost one in five adults in the city live below the poverty line, thus making it difficult for them to afford insurance coverage for routine health checkups.
Lacking health insurance may prevent them from seeking medical attention due to concern about the high cost of medical expenses, and individuals with underlying medical conditions may be even more susceptible to illness.
El Paso, another southwestern Texas border town, ranked closely behind McAllen with a score of 69.7. Like McAllen, approximately one in four adults in El Paso lack health insurance.
The cities of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Las Vegas, Nevada topped the list as the most likely places to experience colds. The experts pointed out that Philadelphia's and Las Vegas's low humidity levels, dry temperatures, and large population density contributed to this ranking.
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