After the overwhelming “tripledemic” of RSV, flu, and COVID last year, health experts are now looking ahead to the 2023-2024 winter season and making predictions. The CDC estimates that there were around 26 million cases of flu during the 2022-2023 flu season, resulting in 290,000 hospitalizations and 19,000 deaths, in addition to the surge in RSV and COVID cases. To make predictions about the upcoming flu season, experts often examine illness trends in the Southern Hemisphere, where the flu season occurs between April and September. However, it’s important to note that influenza viruses can vary regionally, and population immunity may also differ.
According to Dr. Marc Siegel, a professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center, and a Fox News medical contributor, he expects another challenging flu season. He mentions that Australia is currently experiencing an intense flu season with children being particularly affected, which does not bode well for the US. Dr. Gregg Sylvester, chief health officer of pharmaceutical company CSL Seqirus, also agrees that the US may see increased levels of the flu. He states that Australia has had early flu cases this season, and the number of cases seems similar to the 2019 season, with a significant impact on children. Nearly 70% of all hospitalizations since April in Australia have been in people under 16 years old.
While it’s impossible to predict with certainty what the upcoming flu season will bring, it’s crucial to be prepared and get vaccinated, especially for those who are most vulnerable. The doctors interviewed by Fox News Digital believe that the 2023-2024 flu season will be challenging but not as severe as the previous year’s tripledemic. They attribute this to a stronger population immunity and wider availability of vaccines. Dr. Siegel anticipates a relatively mild COVID season due to built-up immunity and the availability of a new booster that covers the prevailing subvariant. Dr. Edward Liu predicts that the spread of RSV will be blunted in 2023 due to increased immunity following a bad RSV season. He also mentions that newly approved RSV vaccines for children, older adults, and pregnant women could help curb the spread.
The groups at highest risk for severe illness from flu, RSV, and COVID include very young children, the elderly, pregnant women, people with preexisting lung and heart disease, and immunocompromised patients. Staying up to date with vaccinations is the first line of defense against these illnesses, especially for those in higher-risk groups. The CDC recommends that everyone aged 6 years and older get a COVID-19 vaccine, with additional boosters for certain groups. The annual flu vaccine is also recommended for everyone aged 6 months and older. The CDC advises adults 65 years and older to receive a higher dose or adjuvanted flu vaccine for added protection. In addition to vaccinations, experts stress the importance of masking, handwashing, distancing, and appropriate testing to prevent the spread of seasonal illnesses.
Experts hope that these preventive measures will help alleviate the strain on hospitals and clinics during this year’s flu season. They acknowledge that the healthcare system is still recovering from the pandemic and may be overstretched and unprepared.
Denial of responsibility! VigourTimes is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
