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In the U.S., four viruses—flu, COVID-19, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and norovirus—are circulating at very high levels, sparking concerns of a potential “quademic.” According to Samuel Scarpino, AI and life sciences professor at Northeastern University, this situation is serious.
anyone over 50 should receive these five vaccines: influenza, shingles, polio, RSV, and pneumococcal.
Dr. Marc Siegel noted it’s currently the peak respiratory virus season, warning of potential bacterial outbreaks like mycoplasma, pertussis, and strep throat. The CDC reported a high positivity rate for flu tests in late January, with 18.8% indicating elevated activity across most regions. COVID-19 showed lower positivity but still posed risks, while RSV had an 8.9% test positivity rate.
Differentiating between these viruses is challenging, especially for young children and those with underlying health conditions. Long COVID remains a significant concern.
Prevention tips include hand hygiene, avoiding close contact with infected individuals, and wearing masks in crowded places. Vaccines are available for flu, COVID-19, and RSV but not norovirus; an mRNA vaccine is in development.
Flu and COVID-19 levels cycle yearly, with mild or severe variants circulating throughout the pandemic. Primary care physicians play a crucial role in managing these conditions.
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Source: https://www.foxnews.com/health/has-quademic-hit-us-viral-infections-what-know-about-them