Flu, COVID-19, and RSV Cases Spike, Causing “Tripledemic” Concerns
Over the past few weeks, health officials across the U.S. have reported significant increases in respiratory illnesses, including influenza (flu), COVID-19, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). This surge in cases has led to worries of a “tripledemic” that could overwhelm hospitals.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), flu activity is high and elevated or very high in nearly every state. COVID-19 hospitalizations are up 20% in the last month, and RSV cases remain high and above pre-pandemic seasonal baselines. Experts say holiday gatherings likely fueled some of the spread.
“As people have gathered indoors more, it’s not surprising we’d see an increase in respiratory viruses like flu, RSV and even COVID-19,” said Dr. Jose Romero, director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases. “The health care system continues to be strained with these concurrent viruses.”
Post-Holiday Surges Expected To Peak in Coming Weeks
Hospitals and health systems nationwide are reporting dramatic jumps in patients admitted with respiratory illnesses. In hard-hit areas, hundreds of new cases are being confirmed each day.
“We were hoping to avoid the triple whammy of all three surging at once, but it seems we weren’t so lucky this year,” said Dr. Faisal Masud, director of critical care at Houston Methodist.
With so many people gathering and traveling over the holidays against the backdrop of waning immunity, experts say these simultaneous outbreaks are not surprising. Based on patterns from previous years, cases are expected to peak in mid-January before beginning to decline.
“We anticipate reaching the crest of this wave of illness sometime in the next couple of weeks if trends follow historical precedents,” said CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky. “But that still means difficult weeks ahead for many communities.”
Hospitals FaceBed Shortages, Long Waits in ERs
The influx of respiratory disease is putting strain on U.S. hospitals, many of which are facing staffing shortages and limited bed capacity. Facilities from coast to coast report exceeding capacity limits and long wait times in emergency departments.
In hard-hit areas, some hospitals have had to reopen COVID-19 wings or take other contingency steps to manage the surge. At Cook Children’s Hospital in Fort Worth, Texas officials say they are nearly out of beds amidst an early RSV season.
“The volumes we are seeing both in our emergency centers and our urgent care centers are unprecedented even compared to prior very busy RSV seasons,” said a hospital spokesperson.
Experts urge those with mild illness who do not require emergency care to contact their primary care provider or use telehealth options when possible, reserving strained hospital resources for those who critically need them.
Simultaneous Infections Raise Risks, Complications
Another concerning trend is that co-infections, where patients contract two or more respiratory viruses at once like RSV and flu or COVID-19 and flu, appear to be rising significantly this season. These simultaneous infections can increase severity of illness and complications.
“We worry most about people who get RSV and flu at the same time or other combinations,” said Dr. William Schaffner of Vanderbilt University Medical Center. “It makes both infections worse than if you just had one.”
Early CDC estimates indicate that co-infection rates are substantially higher this year compared to years prior to the pandemic. Studies show those infected with multiple pathogens face over five times greater risk of severe disease or death compared to single infections.
Doctors urge testing people with respiratory illness for both flu and COVID-19 due to the dangers of dual infections. They also advise staying home when sick, good hand hygiene, masking around vulnerable individuals, and making sure you are up to date on vaccinations.
Experts Emphasize Prevention Amid “Perfect Storm”
Public health authorities widely describe the current situation as an unprecedented “perfect storm” of respiratory viruses circulating intensely at the same time. They emphasize prevention is critical to reduce spread, protect vulnerable groups, and take pressure off the health system.
“This triple whammy of respiratory illnesses is creating a perfect storm that we need to take very seriously,” said Dr. Georges Benjamin of the American Public Health Association. “The bottom line is we need much better uptake on flu and COVID shots to prevent these recurrent surges.”
In addition to vaccines, experts advise continuing to follow precautions like masking, avoiding crowded indoor spaces if high risk, and staying home when sick. With peak timing still uncertain, they warn the risk of infection remains elevated in many regions which could sustain hospital pressures for some time. Officials vow continued tracking to determine when this simultaneous viral assault may finally relent.
“We face real challenges and frustrations in this unusual viral landscape,” said Dr. Walensky. “But we must remain vigilant — this is not over yet.”
Table 1: Respiratory Illness Indicators Nationwide
| Illness | Cases | Hospitalizations | Deaths |
|---|
| Influenza | Very High | Moderate, Rising | Moderate, Rising
| COVID-19 | High, Rising | High, Rising | Low, Rising
| RSV | Very High | Very High | Low
*Cases, hospitalizations and deaths present 4-week changes in indicators compared to previous weeks/seasons, except for RSV which shows current week only
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