As the flu season gains momentum in the United States, a triple threat of viruses—influenza, SARS-CoV-2, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)—is causing concern. Children under age 5 in particular are heavily impacted, and they made up more than 10% of visits for flu-like illnesses the week before Thanksgiving, according to federal data. Pediatric hospital beds were strained across the nation with about 75% in use. Mandy Cohen, MD, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), told a congressional committee that COVID-19 remains a major driver of respiratory hospitalizations and deaths overall, averaging 15,000 hospitalizations and 1,000 deaths weekly. At the moment, COVID-19 vaccine uptake is just 16% for adults and 6% for children. The southern and western US face heightened respiratory virus activity, Dr. Cohen said.
Here’s the trendline: The trend reported by CDC for the week ending December 1 shows a 6.2% increase in positive labs for influenza and a 3.9% increase in visits to healthcare providers for respiratory illnesses. Meanwhile, 8 pediatric deaths were reported for the flu season so far.