United States: Amidst the joyful celebrations of the festive season, a sense of concern hovers over the United States as health officials sound the alarm bells over a surge in respiratory viruses, casting a shadow on the holiday cheer.
While the world turns its gaze towards the United States for the Christmas and New Year festivities, health authorities within the nation have sounded a cautionary note due to the looming threat posed by the respiratory virus season.
Worries have heightened within health departments due to an escalation in hospitalizations stemming from both flu and COVID-19 cases. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), this concern is compounded by the nation’s lagging vaccination rates.
The CDC has reported a decline in Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) cases following its peak around Thanksgiving. Concurrently, there’s been a decrease in visits to emergency departments and hospitals, as reported by ABC News.
Dr. John Brownstein, an epidemiologist and chief innovation officer at Boston Children’s Hospital, expressed some relief, stating, “It’s good that we’re not necessarily seeing all these threats peaking at the same time.”
However, he cautioned, “Simultaneously, the rise in COVID cases, especially with a new variant coinciding with holiday travel and gatherings, unfortunately, sets the stage for more illness.”
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has flagged the JN.1 COVID variant as a “variant of interest.” Global health agencies remain vigilant due to the variant’s growing number of cases.
Around 44 percent of COVID cases in the United States are reportedly linked to the JN.1 variant, according to the CDC. The WHO has warned that nations experiencing winter, including the US, might see a surge in cases.
For now, there’s no evidence suggesting that JN.1 causes more severe illness. It’s believed that existing treatments and vaccines are effective against this variant.
Dr Brownstein expressed concern about the strain on local healthcare systems, saying, “Over time, this will unfortunately exert pressure on our health system.”
In response to the spike in respiratory virus cases, some health agencies in the US advocate reinstating mask mandates.
UW Health in Wisconsin and Northern Illinois announced, “Due to an anticipated seasonal rise in respiratory illness, we’re expanding mask requirements.” Similarly, the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center mandated masks and plans to adjust protocols based on case monitoring.
Dr. Brownstein cautioned that if cases persist on a similar trajectory, hospital admissions could rise in the following weeks. He emphasized the importance of hospitals’ preparedness in dealing with COVID-19 as part of the seasonal mix.
He suggested adhering to pandemic precautions during travel or holiday gatherings, such as maintaining hand hygiene, getting vaccinated, improving ventilation, and considering mask usage based on individual risk.
Addressing household gatherings, Brownstein emphasized, “Different households have varying risk profiles, especially for those vulnerable to severe complications. We must work to reduce overall risk.”
He reiterated, “We have a playbook to mitigate the risk of these respiratory pathogens during the holidays, even though the impact of COVID isn’t as severe as before.”