Respiratory Illnesses on the Rise, Warns CDC Director
Dr Mandy Cohen, director of the CDC, warns of a rising threat of respiratory illnesses in the US In her update to Congress, she discusses the impact of flu, coronavirus, and RSV on hospitalizations Stay informed with CNN Health's weekly newsletter
Dr. Mandy Cohen, the director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, provided an update to a congressional subcommittee on Thursday regarding the cases of respiratory illness in the US caused by flu, the coronavirus, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
"RSV season is currently underway," Cohen informed the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations.
A pharmacy in New York City offers vaccines for COVID-19, flu, shingles and pneumonia on December 6, 2021.
Ted Shaffrey/AP
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"Flu season has started in most parts of the country, spreading rapidly. Although Covid levels are relatively low, it remains the leading cause of new respiratory hospitalizations and deaths, with around 15,000 hospitalizations and 1,000 deaths weekly," she stated.
"There is a significant presence of RSV, especially in the southern region of the country, so it's safe to say we are near the peak for RSV," Cohen explained.
"We are currently at the start of the flu season," she noted. "We are experiencing a fairly typical flu season, and we anticipate a significant increase in flu cases throughout December and January."
She also mentioned that Covid cases are on the rise again, and it remains the most significant threat among the three.
"Covid continues to be the leading respiratory virus causing hospitalizations and fatalities," she stated.
Cohen stressed the significance of getting vaccinated, as vaccines are now available for all three of these respiratory illnesses. In the event of illness, getting tested and receiving treatment is crucial, as antiviral medications are most effective when administered early in an infection.
According to the latest CDC data, more than 1/3 of adults and children have received their flu shot this year. However, only 16% of adults and 6% of children have gotten the new Covid-19 vaccine, which is lower than the CDC's desired rates. Additionally, about 15% of older adults aged 60 and up have received the new RSV vaccine.
Respiratory virus activity is particularly high in the Southern and Western US. Warren County in Ohio has reported an "outbreak" of pediatric pneumonia cases, with a significant increase in the number of cases at one time. The pathogens involved include adenovirus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Mycoplasma pneumoniae, which have been associated with a growing number of respiratory infections in China. Mycoplasma commonly causes mild respiratory infections, particularly in crowded settings such as schools, college residence halls, and long-term care facilities.
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The respiratory virus season is having a significant impact on children. In the week ending November 18, over 10% of doctor visits for children under 5 in the US were due to influenza-like illnesses, which is three times higher than the average for all ages and well above the national baseline, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Additionally, pediatric hospital beds are filling up rapidly. Around 75% of pediatric hospital beds are in use nationwide, as indicated by federal data, and capacity hasn't been this strained since mid-December 2022.
The number of hospitalizations for respiratory viruses such as Covid-19, flu, and RSV has been steadily increasing. While Covid-19 accounts for the majority of these hospitalizations, RSV is the leading cause among children, with weekly admission rates increasing by 69% since the beginning of October.
