America’s dreaded “triple disease” appears to be short-lived as weekly flu and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) numbers are already declining.
Today’s weekly flu report shows that in the week ending December 10, there were just over 30,000 confirmed flu infections nationwide.
Although this is preliminary data, this is a 30 percent drop from the previous week and the first time cases have fallen since flu season began.
Meanwhile, Dr. During a White House news conference on Thursday, Ashish Jha said RSV infections had already peaked and the number had started to decline “pretty quickly.”
The news will come as a relief as Covid appears to be on the rise again and a new disease is emerging with an outbreak of Strep A bacterial infection.
Flu cases fell 30 percent week-on-week, from 43,960 last week to 31,287 this week. It’s another sign that America’s tripartite has peaked
RSV cases continued to decline in the latest CDC update. The country recorded 4,391 new infections in the week ending December 10, the lowest number since late September
Fears of so-called “tripleemia” first surfaced in the summer, when Australia and New Zealand – whose winters coincide with the American summer – experienced devastating flu seasons.
For two years, experts have pointed to lockdowns, mask requirements and other pandemic orders as the reason this year’s flu season has been more brutal than previous ones.
Philly brings back mandatory face coverings in schools for 10 days in January to be “proactive” against winter viruses
The city’s school district announced yesterday that all K-12 students will be required to wear masks in classrooms and hallways from Jan. 3-13 — the first 10 days after school returns from winter break.
This is America’s worst flu season since the 2009 swine flu pandemic – and experts have been warning for months that it will be a long and harsh winter.
At one point earlier this month, hospitals were at their most overcrowded during the pandemic.
In Los Angeles, New York and some parts of Washington state, officials have even recommended bringing masks back indoors in public places.
The latest update from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that there were 31,287 cases of the flu last week – a huge underestimate, as many cases go undetected because Americans show symptoms of the virus at home.
The CDC reports that 25.4 percent of flu tests came back positive last week, up from a week earlier.
In the week ending December 3, a new seasonal record of 43,960 flu cases was confirmed in the US.
The flu does not pose a threat to the majority of Americans, but it can commonly affect the elderly, young children, and those with compromised immune systems.
Last week, CDC officials announced that there have been 9 million confirmed cases of the flu this season, 7,800 hospitalizations and 4,500 deaths from the annual virus.
The spread of the virus has slowed in recent weeks. From the week of October 15 to the week of November 12, the number of flu infections in America increased sevenfold from 2,716 to 19,288 per week.
Last month, from November 12 to December 10, the number of cases increased by 62 percent.
Week after week, the number of confirmed cases rose by 48 percent from November 19 to 26, from 25,990 to 37,280.
However, the growth in cases slowed at the end of November, rising just 16 percent to 43,960 for the week ending December 3.
Only half of US states have high levels of flu activity, according to the CDC, down from 44 out of 50 two weeks ago.
The CDC reports that 25 states are reporting “very high” flu counts and eight states have reached the highest level tracked by the agency
The CDC reports that eight states are most active: Colorado, Idaho, Kentucky, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Washington. Last week, 10 states met the criteria.
The flu wasn’t the only annual virus to re-emerge this fall, only to return to a peak in late fall.
The CDC recorded 4,391 new RSV cases in the week ending Dec. 10, down 63 percent from the previous week.
This is the first week with fewer than 10,000 confirmed cases since the week ending October 15 and the lowest since late September.
These are preliminary numbers. It is likely that the CDC will increase the number of confirmed RSV cases in future reports starting this week.
The virus does not pose a major threat to adults, but it can cause serious illness or even death in young children.
Officials report that approximately 300 to 500 children will die from the virus each year.
Things have picked up speed in recent weeks, and officials are beginning to reassure Americans that RSV won’t pose as much of a threat anytime soon.
DR Ashish Jha, the White House’s Covid response coordinator, said during a briefing on Thursday that RSV is “undoubtedly” starting to decline.
His feelings agree with those of dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the CDC, who said at a briefing last week that RSV is starting to burn out.
However, instead of the two annual viruses, Covid emerges. The US has an average of 64,889 daily infections, an increase of 33 percent over the past two weeks.
While that’s still a number dwarfed by the average of 160,000 cases at this time last year, officials fear it could be a sign that the virus is resurfacing just before the holiday season.
America also suffers 373 deaths from Covid every day, an increase of 50 percent in two weeks.
A deadly wave of Strep A has broken out in America, adding another potential danger to the mix.
The state has recorded two pediatric deaths in Colorado from the bacterial infection.
Hospitals in Arizona, Colorado, Texas, Washington and West Virginia are also reporting abnormally high rates of the disease.
It follows an outbreak in the UK that has killed 19 children so far – significantly more than usual at this time of year.
The decline in flu and RSV is a good thing, with some officials citing respiratory illnesses as a reason for masks to return.
Last week, health officials from 12 counties in Washington state — including King County in Seattle — signed a letter urging residents to wear masks indoors.
Last Friday, the New York City Health Department did the same, issuing a recommendation against masking in indoor public places, including the subway and the gym.
Then Los Angeles officials also issued a recommendation for indoor masks over the weekend.
However, none of these require a mask, and the 20 million Americans living in affected areas will not be forced to dress indoors.
In Philadelphia, school district officials announced Wednesday that schools will be required to wear masks from Jan. 3-13 — the first 10 days after winter break.
This fall’s spikes in respiratory viruses have been attributed to an “immunity gap” thought to have built up during the pandemic when Covid restrictions ruled out seasonal errors.
Experts say these types of mask recommendations and other pandemic-related orders likely played a role in this recent wave of viral illnesses.
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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.
