As the flu season continues, health officials are becoming increasingly concerned about the potential for a triple epidemic of illnesses. With cases of COVID-19 and RSV also on the rise, emergency rooms across the country are preparing for a busy season ahead.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, from October until last week, there were at least 780,000 flu illnesses and almost 500 deaths. Physician Dr. Brownstein shared that certain age groups and individuals with prior medical conditions are more susceptible to severe cases and even death from the three illnesses.
While flu hospitalizations this year have been lower than this time last year, trends in the southern states are similar to last year’s spikes. Health officials urge people to take precautions such as getting vaccinated against the flu and COVID-19, washing hands regularly, and wearing masks in public places to prevent the spread of these illnesses.