New CDC data shows respiratory virus activity is actually high
and rising across the US Yeah,
I feel like a lot of people are sick.
Lately. Doctors are seeing huge spikes in flu,
RSV and COVID-19 Fox. Jonathan Siri looks at these numbers.
It's a new year, but we're still facing the same
threat of a triple demick as COVID flu and RSV
cases spike across the country.
Nationally, COVID-19 remains the biggest driver of serious respiratory viruses.
Emergency room visits are up 12%
and hospitalizations jumped about 17%
in the past week, driven largely by the new JN
One strain,
which is thought to be more contagious than previous variants
when we do have hospitalizations or severe infections or deaths.
It's normally an immunocompromised or higher risk individuals just because
it takes a little bit longer for their body to
recuperate and and their systems aren't as strong.
The CDC also warns flu activity is rising rapidly,
More than 7 million illnesses and 73,000 hospitalizations reported so
far this season.
It's largely due to low vaccination rates.
Less than half of American adults and children have gotten
the flu vaccine this year,
and that could mean another big surge in cases.
You create sort of this perfect environment where people can
share and have less resistance to things they normally would
potentially not get.
And with plenty of cold weather in the months ahead,
public health officials are urging the public to get those
vaccines and also get back to basics with mitigation efforts.
I will wear masks and I carry hand sanitizer around
and try and keep my hands away from my face
and do the best I can and that's basically the
best thing that you can do.
The good news? The spread of RSV seems to be
slowing down although.
Hospitalization rates remain high in Atlanta.
Jonathan Sari, Fox News.