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Early and high rates of hospitalization in influenza
As of the publication of this report, more than 1.6 million cases of influenza have been reported in the US for the 2022-2023 flu season. Of those cases, 13,000 patients required hospitalization and 730 people died from the flu. Some of the most affected areas of the US include southeastern and south-central states such as South Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, Mississippi, Texas, North Carolina, Alabama, and Virginia. Maryland, New York and Washington are also reporting high levels of flu-like illnesses at rates significantly higher than those reported at the same time last year. We see the highest hospitalization rates going back a decade.”
The threat of a ‘triple plague’
Like respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), which is also infecting an increasing number of children at an unusually early rate compared to previous years, influenza cases have remained relatively quiet throughout the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic ). This is largely because lockdowns and other precautionary measures implemented throughout the pandemic have prevented many from being exposed to these and other respiratory viruses. In addition to already high rates of RSV and influenza, cases of COVID-19 are also expected to increase this year as a result of more people moving indoors and the continued emergence of new escape variants of the causative severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2 ). Taken together, the release of these three viruses this season could lead to a “triple pandemic,” likely adding to the burden on already strained health care systems. Despite the added pressure of these new hospitalizations in some states, adequate supplies of personal protective equipment (PPE) and respirators remain available for immediate use.
How to protect yourself this winter
The US CDC recommends that everyone over the age of six months be vaccinated against both the influenza virus and the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Current evidence suggests that this year’s influenza vaccine contains influenza A(H3N2) viruses that are genetically and antigenically similar to strains circulating today, thus indicating that these vaccines should provide adequate protection against severe disease and/or infection. An increasing number of influenza A(H1N1) viruses, which are also included in the annual flu vaccine, have also been reported nationally. Similarly, a new booster dose of a bivalent messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) COVID-19 vaccine has been approved for use in anyone over the age of five in the US. -The CoV-2 strain, as well as the currently dominant Omicron subvariants BA.4 and BA.5. Despite the availability of these vaccines, uptake this year was relatively low. In fact, about five million fewer flu vaccine doses have been administered so far this year compared to the same time last year in the US. dose. In addition to the importance of getting vaccinated against both influenza and SARS-CoV-2, people should also continue to practice good hygiene, including frequent hand washing, covering coughs and sneezes, staying in home when sick and avoiding close contact with people with symptoms. Some antiviral drugs are also available to treat patients with severe illness after infection with one of these viruses. The CDC currently recommends that anyone with a confirmed or suspected flu infection who is at higher risk for complications and/or is hospitalized receive antiviral flu medications immediately. Some of the more common antivirals that can be used to treat flu infection in the US include oseltamivir or baloxavir. Similar recommendations have been made for the treatment of patients with suspected or confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection who are at increased risk for severe disease and meet current eligibility requirements to receive these agents. Currently, ritonavir and remdesivir have been used successfully to ameliorate mild to moderate COVID-19 in at-risk patient populations.
