Respiratory illnesses are on the rise across the nation, with 44 states now experiencing high levels as the flu season worsens.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported Thirty-one U.S. jurisdictions, including the Territories and Washington, D.C., had ‘very high’ levels of respiratory illness, and 16 had ‘high’ levels last week. Only 19 jurisdictions had very high levels and 17 had high levels in the previous week.
This figure includes patients with respiratory illness with fever, cough, or sore throat, and not necessarily laboratory-confirmed flu cases. Some patient records may be of other respiratory pathogens that cause illness with similar symptoms.
Nine jurisdictions had moderate-level illness in the week ending November 19, but that number dropped to two last week as the number of high- and very-high-level locations increased.
Only New Hampshire, Vermont, Michigan and Alaska have mild or low levels of the disease. West Virginia and Hawaii are intermediate levels.
Eleven states, including California, Texas and Virginia, have the highest respiratory disease activity.
The number of new COVID-19 cases remains almost stable Around 300,000 per day in recent weeks, experts say as COVID-19 drags on, flu cases rise, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) cases surge, the country and the world will be hit hard. It warns of the “triple infection” we are facing.
RSV is a common and usually mild virus that kills millions of children. have encountered For the first time in my life, I will be slower than normal due to the restrictions imposed during the pandemic. Children are now widely infected with the virus, and many children’s hospitals are overwhelmed with patients.
Health experts also warn that the U.S. should expect a worse-than-usual flu season as this winter will be the first for many to resume normal activities. During that time, flu rates were historically low, and people wore masks, kept their distance from others, and followed health rules.
CDC data show that this season’s respiratory outpatient visit rate is significantly higher than any other season since at least 2017-2018.
