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Doctors again warn of threat of possible ‘twinemia’ or overcrowded hospitals amid converging respiratory illnesses like COVID-19 and influenza, prompting calls for flu shots early.
Experts issued a similar warning last summer amid the surge in COVID-19 infections, citing concerns about hospital systems overwhelmed by COVID-19 and the influx of flu patients, but the push never came. From October to mid-February, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recorded 165 laboratory-confirmed influenza-related hospitalizations in the United States, the lowest rate of influenza-related hospitalizations since the start of data collection in 2005.
However, doctors’ warnings resurfaced, with experts citing social mixing and relaxed mitigation measures as the colder seasons approach.
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“This year, however, we are heading into the flu season with more relaxed restrictions and the situation will increase the risk of transmission of respiratory diseases,” said Dr TingTing Wong, internist and infectious disease specialist at the NewYork-Presbyterian Medical Group Brooklyn, Fox News. “We have seen a similar increase in ‘summer colds’ caused by other viruses (eg RSV, respiratory syncytial virus and rhino viruses, etc.) this summer as restrictions have eased and fear is on the rise. similar increase in influenza cases this fall / winter season. “
“At the end of the day, please get your flu shot early!” Wong added.
National reports on RSV, a common respiratory virus, increased in July, reaching near highs not seen since late fall through winter 2019, according to lab data submitted to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). RSV infections typically occur in the fall, winter, and spring, suggesting an unusual increase in summer coinciding with the increase in cases of delta variant. However, data indicates that RSV cases detected by PCR started to decline later in July, according to the latest comprehensive data.
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COVID-19 cases are also on the rise; During the latest White House COVID-19 response briefing, CDC director Dr Rochelle Walensky noted that the seven-day average of daily new cases and deaths is increasing, with around 137,000 new cases per day, a 12% increase from the previous seven-day period and approximately 739 deaths per day, an increase of 23% from the previous week. The seven-day average for hospitalizations was similar to the previous week, at about 11,000 per day.
However, influenza circulation remains low, added Dr. Ravina Kullar, infectious disease specialist, epidemiologist and assistant professor at UCLA’s David Geffen School of Medicine.
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“With the surge in COVID-19 infections in the United States, other respiratory pathogens have also increased in unusual ways, particularly RSV and parainfluenza. To date, we have not seen a high prevalence of influenza cases. According to the CDC’s influenza surveillance, influenza circulation remains low at around 2.1%, which is below the national baseline of 2.6%. “
Kullar warned that the rate of influenza circulation “could change at any time” amid the social mix and relaxed mitigation measures, such as face masks.
“It’s important to get the flu shot now,” she said.
Alexandria Hein of Fox News contributed to this report.
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