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If you think the summer cold you are suffering from this year is worse than in the past, you are probably right.
A New York Times report says, yes, “the summer cold and cough season is really worse than usual.”
While unintentional, the effect of months of pandemic restrictions aimed at COVID-19 has also prevented the spread of flu, colds and other viruses, according to the report.
Now the restrictions have been relaxed, masks are removed and social gatherings, along with handshakes and hugs, are back, as are the “regular” viruses that cause runny noses, congested heads, coughing and sneezing. And, they came back in force, the outlet noted.
What is behind this unusually ‘sneezing’ summer?
Sources say infectious disease experts say a number of factors are fueling this unusually ‘sneezing’ summer. Pandemic lockdowns have helped protect many people from COVID-19, but at the same time, our immune systems were not exposed to all of the microbes typically encountered when we are on the go on a daily basis.
Your immune system is probably as strong as it always has been, but experts say if it hasn’t been alerted to a microbial intruder in a while, its response may be a bit slow.
Dr Paul Skolnik, immunovirologist and president of internal medicine at the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, told The Times, “If you haven’t had these exposures, your immune system may or may not be a little slower to respond. to respond. also completely, resulting in greater susceptibility to certain respiratory infections and sometimes longer or more prolonged symptoms.
There was a peak in RSV
According to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cases of common respiratory viruses, including respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and human parainfluenza viruses, which cause symptoms typical of colds and flu, are on the rise this year. summer, according to the report.
Particularly unusual for this time of year, a CDC spokeswoman said, is the peak of VRS, which for the very young and the very old can be especially dangerous.
While the RSV outbreak was most pronounced in several southern states, the virus is emerging across the country, spreading mainly to young children, according to the report.
“It’s a bit like wildfire”
Sue Huang, director of the World Health Organization’s National Influenza Center at the New Zealand Institute of Environmental Science and Research, said she had not seen anything like it “in 20 years working as a virologist “. Dr Huang added, “There is usually some degree of pre-existing immunity due to the previous winter. When you don’t have that kind of protection, it’s like wildfire. The fire can simply continue and the chain of transmission continues, ”the report cited.
With the exception of young children who can be tested to confirm a case of RSV and those with cold symptoms who will be tested to rule out COVID-19, Dr. Kathryn M. Edwards, professor of pediatrics at Vanderbilt University Medical Center , noted that “most people are unlikely to know the specific respiratory virus that is causing their symptoms. “
Regardless of the pandemic, people should always take precautions against the spread of respiratory disease, Allison Agwu, an infectious disease specialist at Johns Hopkins Children’s Center, told The Times.
“Do the things that we tell fifth graders: wash your hands, cover your sneezes, rest, all of those things,” she said. “And do your best to get vaccinated against the things you can.” Get vaccinated against COVID to be less paranoid when you catch a cold. “
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