The number of people contracting viral illnesses has increased in the US amid an ongoing “quad-demic,” a term referring to three respiratory viruses and one gastrointestinal disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
COVID-19, influenza, Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and norovirus cases have risen. Emergency department visits are high for RSV and influenza, with elevated COVID-19 visit numbers compared to previous winters.
The CDC reported 18.8 percent positive tests for influenza, while positive tests for COVID-19 remain stable at 6.6 percent. RSV positivity has decreased to 8.9 percent. The agency notes that wastewater viral activity levels for COVID-19 and influenza A are high, while national RSV levels are moderate.
Predictions suggest emergency department visits will remain low for COVID-19 but high to very high for influenza over the next two weeks. Norovirus cases have ticked up, with 91 outbreaks reported in December. No vaccine is available to prevent norovirus infection, which causes diarrhea and vomiting.
Source: https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/5092900-viral-sicknesses-rise-amid-quad-demic-in-us