A Resurgence of Respiratory Viruses

• Published in: American scientist Vol. 111; no. 1; pp. 6 - 8
• Main Author: Burke, Katie L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Research Triangle Park Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society 01-01-2023; Sigma XI-The Scientific Research Society
• Subjects: Children's hospitals; Common cold; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; Forecasts and trends; Health aspects; Influenza; Market trend/market analysis; Pandemics; Pediatrics; Public health; Rainy season; Respiratory syncytial virus; Respiratory tract diseases; Seasonal variations; Seasonal variations (Diseases); Viral diseases; Viruses; United States; Hong Kong China; Australia; United States > US; China
• ISSN: 0003-0996; 1545-2786
• DOI: 10.1511/2023.111.1.6

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are now seeing a highly unusual pattern of seasonal respiratory infections. The influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) seasons started earlier and spiked higher than usual in 2022. Hospitalization rates for flu are the highest seen in a decade in the United States, and pediatric hospitals in particular have been at or near capacity. The COVID-19 pandemic has changed so much in public health. "We've never studied respiratory viruses, especially the common respiratory viruses, in such great detail before," says Vijay Dhanasekaran of the University of Hong Kong. Flu and RSV usually follow a seasonal pattern, peaking in the winter when conditions are cold and dry in temperate locations, and peaking close to the rainy season in tropical locations. RSV mostly affects children under two years old and the elderly; for most other people, getting infected feels like a common cold.