Americans have been warned of a “triple Thanksgiving threat” from Covid, flu and RSV as they prepare to gather with family and friends to celebrate the holiday.
Surveillance shows cases of all three viruses are increasing nationwide, especially in the southern and southwestern areas.
Dr. Bill Messer, a molecular biologist in Oregon, warned that a “kind of triple threat” is emerging, although no virus is ahead of the other yet.
And this time of year is especially risky because it brings a lot of people together indoors – usually in small spaces.
He urged people to wear face masks in crowded places and not to touch their nose and mouth.
He also encouraged all Americans to get vaccinated against all three viruses.
Flu: This map shows flu levels by state. It shows flu cases were highest in the southern and southwestern regions of the US last week
COVID: Wastewater surveillance suggests Covid cases are now on the rise again as number of viruses detected in wastewater increases
RSV: The graph above shows that respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), which infects the lungs and can be fatal, is also on the rise in the United States
Speaking to KOIN, he said that “no virus” appears to be the dominant threat this year.
But he added: “We know from recent experience that this holiday season will certainly bring one or more of these to the surface.”
Dr. Bill Messer, an Oregon infectious disease expert, warned of rising cases
“We must do everything in our power to limit the impact on ourselves and on family members and friends that we now see during the holidays.”
The disease expert recommended that people wash their hands before and after eating and sneeze into the crook of their arm to avoid infection.
He also suggested keeping hands away from the eyes, mouth and nose as these are easily infected areas on the face.
Dr. Messer added: “TThings like maintaining good air circulation in your rooms, an open window, fans, air purifiers, they keep the air moving, they all improve circulation… reduce the risk of spreading certain pathogens.”
DR Matthew Sims, director of infectious disease research at Corewell East in Chicago, also warned of the triple threat.
He told a local news station: “Every year we talked about the triple threat and every year we had some cases where it was serious.”
“We had times where we were really overwhelmed in the hospital.
“Again, all three viruses are on the rise.”
‘Take precautions. Nothing prevents you from being exposed to more than one virus.”
This graph shows that the number of Americans hospitalized with the flu increases as winter approaches
From the above, it is clear that flu cases are increasing in the United States. The dominant type this year is type A, which generally causes a milder course
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Covid cases increased in eight states last week.
And analysis of wastewater surveillance suggests that infections are increasing across the country.
Meanwhile, Covid hospitalizations reached 16,000 in the week ending November 11, up from nearly 15,000 the previous week.
However, this is far below the 24,000 recorded at the same time last year.
CDC data also shows that flu cases are increasing nationwide and in seven states.
The common virus can be deadly for people with chronic illnesses, killing up to 52,000 Americans each year.
All families are entitled to free Covid tests
Every family in the US has the right to order up to eight free Covid tests this winter to prevent the spread of the virus to their loved ones.
The hardest-hit state is Louisiana, where hospitalizations for respiratory illnesses doubled last week.
Nationwide, flu hospitalizations increased by 50 percent to 8,000 patients within a week.
The number of deaths rose by 48 percent to 490 deaths.
The flu also starts a month earlier than normal, which researchers say may be the result of the ongoing after-effects of Covid restrictions.
People are still traveling more than ever to make up for the time lost due to the pandemic.
Also worrying are the increasing cases of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) – a respiratory virus that infects the lungs and airways, mainly affecting young children and the elderly.
The positivity rate — the percentage of nationwide tests that detect the virus — reached 14 percent last week, up from less than 10 percent last month.
Vaccines for all three respiratory diseases are available for people six months and older, but uptake has not been as high as experts had hoped.
Current data shows that about 65 percent of adults have not had a flu shot, while the figure for children is about 70 percent.
It is estimated that about 20 percent of American adults also signed up for the updated Covid vaccine that was made available in September.
Only 14 percent of Americans over 60 have received an RSV vaccine.
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Crystal Leahy is an author and health journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a background in health and wellness, Crystal has a passion for helping people live their best lives through healthy habits and lifestyles.
