With COVID-19 precautions ending, the flu, RSV, and COVID-19 are spreading. While illnesses spreading during cold and flu season is normal, they have been suppressed for the last two years.
According to CNY Central, these aren’t the only illnesses spreading this season. Just like before colds and stomach bugs are going around like they used to this time of year. This is happening as everything returns to normal.
Many symptoms overlap for these types of illnesses and not a lot can be done other than supportive care.
CNY Central spoke with Doctor Matthew Cambareri, with Family Medicine at West Taft Care.
“Although there’s a lot of overlap between all of those things, those things are going to go around as long as we continue to do the normal stuff,” Cambareri said. “I don’t see any way of preventing it aside from what we’ve always done, which is hand hygiene and try not to cough on your neighbor.”
Health departments are urging residents to get their flu shot as cases continue to rise quickly. While many can recover from the illness at home, the hospital system is struggling. In addition to the flu making a stronger comeback this year, the season came earlier than normal. Usually flu cases start to rise in October-November, but this year they started in September.
According to Jodi Martin, Director Preventative Health Services at the Oswego Health Department, there are ways healthcare experts can predict what might happen. Usually by paying attention to what’s happening in the Southern hemisphere, they can expect that same outcome later on in this area.
Australia experienced the worst flu season they have seen in five years with cases peaking earlier than normal. The same is now happening in the U.S. and New York. 5 to 17-year-olds are being hit the hardest with a 69% week to week increase in cases.
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