Experts Warn Of Possible ‘Twindemic’ This Winter

MIAMI (CBSMiami) – Experts person been informing we could spot what they are calling a “twindemic” of COVID-19 and flu this coming winter.

Millions of children get sick with the flu each twelvemonth and tens of thousands are hospitalized with respiratory syncytial microorganism oregon RSV.  Research being presented astatine an American Academy of Pediatrics league shows pandemic precautions, similar wearing masks and societal distancing, helped halt the dispersed of flu and different communal respiratory viruses past season.

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“Although each of these things is not perfect, taken together, they truly are effectual successful preventing illness,” said Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious diseases specializer astatine Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

The survey was conducted astatine Akron Children’s Hospital successful Ohio from October 2020 done April 2021, erstwhile pandemic measures were successful place. Researchers recovered conscionable 2 cases of flu and nary cases of RSV.  When restrictions relaxed successful mid-March, viral infections returned.

“We didn’t truly expect that we would spot spreading of wintertime respiratory viruses successful the summer. It conscionable shows you that these viruses, which are truly precise contagious, volition instrumentality vantage of america arsenic we unfastened up, stitchery together, instrumentality disconnected our masks,” Dr. Schaffner said.

The Noecker household takes what precautions they tin each wintertime due to the fact that three-year-old Alexander was calved premature.

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“The doctors were precise clear, helium needed to beryllium protected due to the fact that if helium caught RSV oregon the flu, determination was a precocious likelihood that helium could extremity up hospitalized,” said Rebecca Noecker.

And the COVID-19 pandemic brought caller worries.

“We travel each the nationalist wellness advice. We deterioration masks everyplace we go,” Noecker said. “We lavation our hands erstwhile we get location and, you know, we mostly marque definite that we devour good and sleep.”

Noecker household members besides ever get their flu shots, and they anticipation these habits volition support them steadfast this winter.

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The CDC recommends everyone ages 6 months and older person the flu vaccine, with uncommon exception.

CBSMiami.com Team