Medical staff wearing masks at SSM Health St. Anthony in Oklahoma (USA)
Sheet The Guardian On January 5, citing updated information from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the number of cases of acute respiratory illness causing people to seek medical care is at a high level.
It is forecast that the number of Covid-19 cases will continue to increase in the coming winter weeks. In the two weeks ending December 28, 2024, the positive test rate for Covid-19 increased to 7.1% across the United States.
During the same period, the rate of positive tests for influenza increased from 12% to 18.7%, of which the most common were influenza A (H1N1) pdm09 and influenza A (H3N2).
Additionally, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) positivity rates are considered “very high” in many areas, especially among young children. The CDC added that children make up the highest proportion of emergency department visits and hospitalizations, while hospitalization rates have increased among older adults in some areas.
Although high rates of acute respiratory diseases cause people to seek health care, vaccination rates for these diseases remain low. According to the CDC, Covid-19 and flu vaccination rates are low in both adults and children. Similarly, vaccination rates for RSV remain low in adults.
CDC recommends that people 6 months of age and older get the 2024-2025 flu vaccine and Covid-19 vaccine. The agency added that vaccination is especially important for people at risk of severe illness such as people 65 and older, people with certain medical conditions, nursing home residents and women pregnant.
According to the sheet The Hillconcerns about the “four epidemics”, including seasonal flu, Covid-19, RSV and norovirus, are growing in the US, as hospitals see an increase in the spread of respiratory viruses. Norovirus is an enteric virus that is easily transmitted through direct or indirect contact with an infected person, causing severe vomiting and diarrhea.
In Southern California, most hospitals never ended the mask mandate after the Covid-19 pandemic. However, currently, this regulation is tightened more.
Health experts predict a surge in cases due to the holiday season, with millions of Americans gathering at airports and meeting at family gatherings. Now, further spread is expected as millions of people return to work and school.
