In what a growing number of individuals are beginning to refer to as a “tripledemic” of infectious diseases, three respiratory viruses are currently on the rise: RSV, COVID-19, and the flu.
The following is a rundown of the current state of affairs in the world: According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the number of flu cases is higher than they typically are at this time of year, the number of RSV cases is soaring, and the number of COVID-19 cases is starting to creep upward again; and it is anticipated that the situation will get worse before it gets better.
Experts in public health are sounding the alarm about a potential tripledemic of RSV, COVID-19, and the flu. What the experts have to say about why there’s a surge, as well as what you can do to keep safe in the face of it.
“There isn’t any doubt that there are going to be three active respiratory viruses this season,” says William Schaffner, M.D., an infectious disease specialist and professor at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.
“There isn’t any doubt that there are going to be three active respiratory viruses this season.” “COVID is out there, RSV started abnormally early, and this is giving paediatric hospitals a rough time in the sense that there are a large number of youngsters who need care,” According to Dr. Schaffner, an increase in reported cases of influenza “began early” and is “extremely active” in the southeast region, and it is gradually making its way up the east coast.
“We’re going to be seeing a busy respiratory virus season,” the doctor said. “And if they all show up at the same time, there will be a significant pressure on the system,” adds Dr. Schaffner.
The following is information that is vital to your preparation for what is next.
What could be the reason for the recent uptick in RSV cases?
According to Amesh A. Adalja, M.D., a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, it is not unusual for multiple respiratory viruses to take up this time of year. This is one of the arguments that he makes. However, what is particularly strange is the high number of severe RSV cases that have been reported.
According to Dr. Adalja, “The concern is that the RSV season has started earlier—as it did last year—and that a large number of youngsters are sick with RSV all at the same time.
” Because paediatric hospitals have a smaller patient capacity than adult hospitals, there is a lower threshold for them to become overburdened. Okay, but why are there more reported cases right now? It isn’t totally apparent, but there are various suggestions about what could have happened.
According to Dr. Schaffner, “It’s a conundrum, but the favoured hypothesis is that, during the era of relatively social separation and lockdown, a large number of children did not attend schools or go to daycare; and this is a virus that affects youngsters and elderly individuals.
” According to him, RSV is a frequent childhood virus; nevertheless, the majority of youngsters didn’t become infected with it because they weren’t connecting with one another. According to Dr. Schaffner, “now that there is a group of susceptible children that has been built up, and they are acquiring the virus.
” According to Dr. Adalja, there is also the possibility that the population as a whole may have experienced a decline in its immunity against RSV. And as a result, RSV has been given the opportunity to flourish.
What are the potential outcomes of a tripledemic?
According to Thomas Russo, M.D., professor and chief of infectious disease at the University of Buffalo in New York, the most pressing worry is the availability of bed space in hospitals. According to him, there is a possibility of developing major complications with each of these three illnesses, despite the fact that many people can get sick with any of them without any problems at all.
Dr. Russo believes that it is not in anyone’s best interest for the healthcare systems to become overburdened. He argues that if we have three infectious diseases at the same time, there is a possibility that our healthcare system may become overwhelmed.
There are problems with staffing, and there are not enough workers to care for patients. This has been a continuous problem ever since the pandemic began. In addition, there is always the possibility that you could contract three distinct respiratory viruses within the same season.
According to Dr. Russo, “people can absolutely have all three; there is no question about it.” Dr. Schaffner explains that despite the fact that all three viruses are responsible for respiratory infections, they are in fact “totally independent viruses” that are quite distinct from one another.
According to Dr. Russo, one of the most important questions is whether the incidence of all three will reach its peak at the same time or whether there will be waves of one and then another. He says, “We’re quite concerned about coincidental waves or overlapping waves to put us at risk for all of them.” “We’re quite concerned about coincidental waves or overlapping waves.”
How to safeguard oneself against the triple epidemic The necessity of being vaccinated against the flu and ensuring that your COVID-19 shots are up to date is emphasised by medical professionals. According to Dr. Russo, this can make it less likely that you will become ill.
Regrettably, there is now no vaccine available that can protect against RSV. When you need to be indoors, Dr. Russo suggests finding places with good air circulation and, if you’re at a high risk for serious complications from any of these viruses, he says it’s not a bad idea to wear a mask inside. Since all three viruses spread through respiratory droplets, he recommends that you try to be in places with good air circulation.
Dr. Schaffner emphasises the significance of practising good hand hygiene since respiratory syncytial virus, in particular, can be transmitted through secretions that are left on surfaces.
However, if you’ve done all the necessary precautions, Dr. Adalja advises you not to worry about the possibility of a tripledemic. He notes that people commonly contract numerous respiratory infections in a single season.
