CNN
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As seasonal virus activity surges across the U.S., experts are stressing the importance of preventive measures like masks and vaccinations, and the value of treatment for those who develop symptoms.
Tens of thousands of people are being hospitalized with respiratory illnesses each week this season. According to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 29,000 patients were hospitalized with COVID-19 in the week ending Dec. 23, about 15,000 were hospitalized with influenza, and RSV (RSV). Thousands more patients were hospitalized with RSV.
Nationally, levels of COVID-19 in wastewater, a key indicator of virus transmission, are extremely high, and in every region are higher than they were at this time last year, according to CDC data. Weekly emergency department visits have increased by 12%, and hospitalizations have increased by about 17% over the past week.
Additionally, while COVID-19 remains the leading cause of hospitalizations due to respiratory viruses, influenza activity is rapidly increasing. The CDC estimates that there have been more than 7 million illnesses, 73,000 hospitalizations, and 4,500 deaths related to influenza this season, with multiple metrics increasing at high levels.
RSV activity is showing signs of slowing in some parts of the United States, but many indicators, including hospitalization rates, remain elevated. Overall, young children and the elderly are most affected.
“It's a wave of winter respiratory pathogens, especially respiratory viruses. So it's COVID, it's influenza, and you can't diminish the importance of RSV,” said Peter Peter, dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine. Dr. Hotez said. “So this is a triple threat and probably a fourth threat because there is also pneumococcal pneumonia that complicates many of these viral infections.”
Respiratory virus activity has increased in recent weeks. The CDC says influenza-like activity is currently high or very high in two-thirds of the United States and throughout the South and Northeast, including California, New York City, and Washington.
“Remember, all of these numbers are before people gathered for the holidays,” Hotez said. “So don't be disappointed or surprised if we see an even bigger rally heading into January.”
Vaccines help prevent serious illness and death, but vaccination rates remain low this season, even though vaccines that protect against each of the three major viruses are available for the first time in history. is. According to CDC data, only 19% of adults and 8% of children have received the latest COVID-19 vaccine, and 17% of adults 60 and older have received the new RSV vaccine. Less than half of adults and children have received the flu vaccine this season.
“Unfortunately, as a population, we are underutilizing both the influenza vaccine and the latest coronavirus vaccines,” said Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious disease expert at Vanderbilt University. “But these viruses will be around for a while yet, so it’s not too late to get vaccinated.”
The CDC says hospital bed capacity, including intensive care units, remains “stable” nationwide. But hospitals in at least five states are returning to mask mandates due to high levels of the respiratory virus.
Timothy Sullivan, a spokesman for Massachusetts General Brigham, said health care workers who interact directly with patients will be required to wear masks starting Tuesday, and patients and visitors are “strongly encouraged to wear facility-issued masks.” .
In Wisconsin, UW Health and UnityPoint Health – Meriter expanded their mask policies to cover more people. The University of Wisconsin requires all staff, patients, and visitors to wear masks when interacting with patients in clinic settings such as waiting rooms and exam rooms.
UnityPoint Health – Merritt says masks are still required for team members and hospital room visitors.
Bellevue, a public hospital in New York City, announced on social media last week that it was reinstating its mask mandate after a rise in respiratory illnesses.
In Pennsylvania, the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center has required everyone to wear a mask upon entering or indoors since Dec. 20. The system-wide mask-wearing policy was adjusted to “address an increase in respiratory virus cases,” but could change if there is a “significant decline” in respiratory illnesses, the health system said. Says.
An order issued last week by the Los Angeles County health officer requires all health care workers and visitors to remain closed while in contact with patients or in patient care areas, based on the CDC's classification of hospitalization levels for COVID-19. are required to wear masks.
For the week ending December 23, more than 230 U.S. counties were considered to have a “high” level of hospitalizations due to COVID-19, which the CDC defines as at least 20 hospitalizations per 100,000 people. defined as the number of new hospitalizations. Nearly 1,000 other counties, about a third of the country, have a “moderate” COVID-19 hospitalization level, with at least 10 hospitalizations per 100,000 people.
Vaccines and masks can help reduce the risk of severe illness before you get sick, but treatments are also available to prevent severe illness if you get infected.
Antiviral treatments for COVID-19, such as Paxlobid, and influenza, such as Tamiflu, are especially helpful for people who are at higher risk of developing severe disease, such as people over 50 and people with certain underlying health conditions, such as: Masu. weakened immune system, heart disease, obesity, diabetes, chronic lung disease, etc.
“Lives can be saved if more people at high risk for severe disease receive timely treatment,” the CDC said in a recent blog post. But “not enough people are accepting it.”
Seasonal respiratory virus activity can be difficult to predict, but the CDC projects that hospitalization rates will remain high for several weeks, with hospitalizations likely to be as high this season as last. suggests that it will occur.
“One of the ways we can all have a happy New Year is to protect ourselves as much as possible from these viruses,” Schaffner said.
“Of course, I will continue to encourage vaccination, careful use of masks by those at high risk, and not going to work if you are sick to prevent further spread of the virus. Treatments that can help you get healthy faster. Please call your health care provider because you may have a problem.”
