Rising flu cases threaten hospital capacity as Covid surges into holidays
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Houston Methodist The Woodlands Hospital, Houston, Texas – EMTs and nurses in the emergency room tend to patients on hallways August 18, 2021.
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The number of flu cases is on the rise across the United States. This could increase pressure on hospitals already battling a surge of Covid.
The so-called “twindemic” — what public health experts have dubbed the combination of influenza and Covid — could accelerate during holiday gatherings this week.
Shira Shira Shafir from the University of California Los Angeles, epidemiology professor, said, “The biggest problem we’re facing is a complete overload of our health-care capacity.”
Shafir explained, “When we have Covid transmission, plus flu and all other things that could make someone need to go the hospital,… we may not be able to provide any care.”
Hospital admissions for the flu are up nearly 34% over the past week, reaching a seven-day average of nearly 250 per day as of Thursday, according to data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Last flu season, the average daily admissions was 125.
About 8,400 patients with Covid have been admitted to U.S. hospitals each day on average over the past week, the data shows, up 5% from a week ago but lower than the delta wave’s peak level of more than 12,000 daily admissions over the summer.
Shafir explained that last year’s flu season was almost non-existent in the United States. Public health protocols were used to prevent the spread and transmission of the coronavirus. According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, flu cases fell at an unprecedented rate last year.
The flu season returned as U.S. officials relaxed restrictions like mask-wearing, and limited gatherings for Covid vaccines.
According to the CDC, this could mean that Americans have a reduced immune system against influenza. said earlier this fall.
To match predicted flu strains, scientists develop new flu vaccines every year. This year’s flu vaccine is not as good as the one from 2013. scientists have said.
Shafir explained that “we do not expect that people will be as protected against flu illness this year” because they did not experience a flu epidemic last year. This makes people more susceptible to the flu this year.
According to ACDC, 48% of Americans have had the flu shot. CDC survey conducted between Dec. 2 and Dec. 13. The remaining 9.5% stated they were planning to do it.
The agency projected total vaccination coverage of the flu season 2021-22 at 57.2%. This is up by 3.4 percentage points on the last season’s reported rate.
The worrying part about flu immunizations for this season is that they are much lower than usual as we enter the holiday gathering season,” stated Dr. Jim Conway who directs the University of Wisconsin’s immunization program.
Gatherings during the holiday season
Influenza spread may be worsened by the holidays. Individuals with influenza symptoms but not positive for Covid could go to holiday gatherings or transmit it, says Shafir.
Shafir explained that even if someone passes the Covid test negative, it is possible for them to have other things they could pass on to their loved ones.
According to the epidemiologist, people with symptoms such as a sore throat, cough or runny nose should stay home. The epidemiologist suggested masking, ventilation, and, where possible, outdoor gatherings to slow the spread of disease.
To help people stay healthy, health officials recommend Covid booster doses and vaccines as well as flu shots. Research has found that the Covid omicron variant has been rapidly spreading, although it’s not as serious as some other varieties. Research has shown that vaccines and boosters can provide enhanced protection.
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