Photograph by Polina Tankilevitch: by way of pexels
It could appear a bit just like the boy who cried wolf, however public well being officers are as soon as once more urging the general public to be involved about a “twindemic” of COVID-19 and flu this coming winter.
The rationale: A mix of a tricky flu season within the southern hemisphere, the top of my pandemic social distancing and masking behaviors, and the potential for an additional SARS-CoV-2 variant, specialists say.
“We needs to be nervous,” Richard Webby, Ph.D., an infectious illness specialist at St. Jude Kids’s Analysis Hospital told NPR about this year’s upcoming flu season. “I don’t essentially assume it’s run-for-the-hills nervous. However we have to be nervous.”
Well being reporters could need to tune into the CDC’s annual flu briefing on Tuesday, Oct. 4 (This 12 months it is going to be on-line), the place two CDC and three doctor specialists will reply the media’s questions concerning the flu. Go to this webpage to register.
A extreme flu season is notoriously tough to foretell as a result of the influenza virus mutates, however the southern hemisphere simply wrapped up essentially the most extreme flu season for the reason that pandemic started, suggesting the chance {that a} long-feared “twindemic” of each flu and COVID-19 circumstances may emerge after two years of traditionally delicate flu seasons.
Usually, scientists look to what has occurred within the southern hemisphere (it’s winter within the southern hemisphere when it’s summer season within the northern hemisphere) to predict what could occur in Europe and the Americas throughout the winter season.
In the meantime, there are reports from northern Europe that new COVID-19 circumstances and hospitalizations are rising once more, and scientists are intently watching whether or not a new variant of SARS-CoV-2 could sweep the globe because it did final winter. Usually, the U.S. has been a number of months behind Europe within the rise of latest COVID-19 circumstances.
If the “twindemic” happens this winter, it will additional pressure the U.S. well being system which is already beneath duress from two and half years of COVID-19 response.
“General,” Helen Chu, Ph.D., M.P.H., a doctor and flu knowledgeable on the College of Washington told the Atlantic, “we aren’t effectively ready.”
Don’t these phrases sound acquainted to all of us within the well being care journalism subject?
To assist you along with your reporting, take a look at this tip sheet for reporting on the flu, up to date for the 2022-23 winter season.
