CDC Warns of Respiratory Virus Surge Following Holidays Amid Medicine Shortages

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warned of a respiratory virus surge following the holidays, which is in line with concerns of other infectious disease and public health experts.

A professor in the Division of Infectious Diseases at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Dr. William Schaffner, said that the spread of respiratory viruses following holiday festivities is "highly likely."

A Surge of Respiratory Viruses After The Holidays

Schaffner, who is also the medical director of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases, said that the current viruses spreading across the United States come as people have generally put COVID-19 and vaccination behind them.

The health expert said that people have not been at all attentive to the flu and continue to not wear face masks. Schaffner warned that if they are close to other people, there is an opportunity for all three circulating viruses, COVID-19, flu, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) to quickly spread.

Furthermore, there has been a wave of flight cancellations across the country, forcing families to be stuck at the airport during holiday travels. At that time, Schaffner said that people will be together for long periods of time when they are not wearing face masks, and are tired and stressed, as per CNN.

Schaffner warned that these were the factors and occasions where people are more susceptible to the spread of the viruses. He added that his own granddaughter had four flights that were canceled over the holidays due to various reasons. He recommended the use of face masks while at the airport and while riding on an airplane.

The health expert said that all in the infectious diseases and public health sectors would urge people that masks are not perfect but are an additional layer of protection against respiratory illnesses. The situation comes as some local health officials are bracing for a possible surge in respiratory infections after the winter holidays.

According to the Chicago Tribune, Dr. Jonathan Pinsky, an Edward Hospital doctor, has advised people to weigh the risks of contracting COVID-19, flu, or RSV, before attending holiday gatherings. He warned that there is currently a shortage of antibiotics and over-the-counter medicines in Naperville.

Combination of Respiratory Illnesses

The health expert said that the amount of transmission that is currently observed means that no one can be sure that they were not exposed to any of the viruses. Pinksy, the Naperville hospital's infection control and prevention medical director, said that attending a lot of different gatherings raised the chances of contracting one of the respiratory illnesses.

The situation comes after a sharp decrease in cases at the end of the winter last year. But in January 2022, Naperville saw a resurgence followed by a decline through March. Pinksy said that Edward has consistently seen between 20 to 40 patients admitted every week for COVID-19 since the spring.

On the other hand, public health experts and healthcare professionals in the Bay State are concerned about the increasing virality of the three respiratory illnesses. Furthermore, staffing shortages and overflowing emergency rooms exacerbate the issue that is affecting the state's medical care system, the Sun Chronicle reported.