Americans are beginning on another another Christmas travel season in the middle of a viral bombardment dubbed as "tripledemic", which has become tiresomely normal.
New, immune-evasive strains of the Omicron variant are spreading, and the number of COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths is once again on the rise, although the numbers are still well below their wintertime peak.
'Tripledemic' Cold And Flu Season
However, the coronavirus will have company in 2022: Common seasonal viruses, which have been dormant for the past two winters, have returned with a vengeance.
"As it turns out, they have some catching up to do," said Dr. Peter Graven, director of the Oregon Health and Science University's office of advanced analytics. Particularly, influenza and RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus, struck hard and early this autumn, creating huge epidemics that are currently coinciding with a coronavirus resurgence.
This viral accumulation, which some are calling a "tripledemic," has already triggered a grueling season of illness, resulting in a skyrocketing demand for pain and fever relievers and straining the capacity of children's hospitals.
However, each of these three viruses follows a somewhat different path. Although there is substantial local variance, RSV has likely peaked in the majority of the United States, while influenza is on the rise. And the number of instances of COVID-19 is expected to continue climbing, as per The Strait Times.
This suggests that more challenging, fever-ridden weeks are ahead. According to experts, it is not too late to receive a COVID-19 booster or a flu vaccine that looks to be well-matched to the influenza strains circulating in 2022.
And specialists reiterated their now-common advice to take basic measures, including as wearing masks in busy indoor settings, utilizing fast COVID-19 testing prior to meeting susceptible individuals, and remaining at home if feeling poorly.
Scientists are optimistic that next winter will be milder, noting that this year's severity is a regrettable but not wholly unexpected consequence of years of pandemic measures, such as masking and social isolation. These efforts protected many individuals from common winter diseases and may have prevented even greater strains on already-overburdened health care systems.
However, many children and adults lost out on the chance to acquire or strengthen their immunity against influenza and RSV, leaving the viruses with an abnormally susceptible population this autumn. During the peak of the respiratory virus season, parents are trying to get over-the-counter pain and fever relief prescriptions for their children, since some pharmacies have imposed restrictions.
As the temperature drops, the dangers of the tripledemic - influenza, RSV, and COVID-19 - increase for children. Some parents are concerned about the inability of local pharmacies, such as CVS and Walgreens, to restock their shelves quickly enough to meet the demand for medicines.
CVS Health has put a restriction of two items on all children's pain relievers sold in its pharmacies and online. As a reaction, the Consumer Healthcare Products Association, which represents medication producers, stated, "Product supplies are being replaced as rapidly as possible, and there is no widespread shortage in the United States."
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 150,000 individuals have been hospitalized with influenza in 2018. The RSV hospitalization rate is around 34 per 100,000 individuals, however it looks to be declining.
According to The Hill, the US Food and Drug Administration said that producers anticipate an increase in availability in the near future.
How to Protect Your Family Against 'Tripledemic'?
Getting vaccinated is one method to make Christmas or seasonal gatherings safer, according to a lung association press release. Get both your latest COVID-19 and flu vaccinations, which are offered for people 6 months and older. The new COVID booster should give extra protection against variations and subvariants that have recently disseminated.
Consider performing a COVID-19 test at home before to large gatherings to avoid the transmission of the virus. Most insurances will cover the usual cost of $25 for a two-pack of self-testing kits.
Do not attend the party if you are ill. Remain at home if you have signs of COVID, influenza, or any other virus. Examine promptly. Call your health care physician to find out what treatment choices might be beneficial to you if you are at high risk. If you must travel, pack your drugs and mask in your carry-on luggage, not your checked luggage. You or someone who is immunocompromised and prefers you wear a mask can be protected by the mask.
Always wash your hands often for at least 20 seconds with soap and water. Use hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol instead. Avoid touching your eyes, lips, and nose, suggests the American Lung Association. When you touch your face, bacteria from your hands can enter your body and cause illness, according to Medical Xpress.
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