Tennessee currently ranks number one in the U.S. for flu cases. As we head into the holidays, medical experts warn us of a potential “tripledemic.” The flu, RSV, and COVID-19 would make up the components of the viral trio. The CDC says a tripledemic was not seen last season due to increased masking and fewer RSV cases.
It’s been reported a high number of children are hospitalized with RSV. In addition, the local urgent care center reported that a record number of patients came in for care after Thanksgiving.
“We can’t prognosticate or ‘guesstimate’ what’s going to happen in the future; we can only use the data we have here, and now, that is, the hospital situation is not good, not only for respiratory illnesses like RSV but for any child or adult for that matter who may need a hospital bed which would find it occupied with someone with an RSV infection,” said Dr. Jennifer Ashton, ABC News Medical Director.
According to data provided by Walgreens, Knoxville, Nashville, and Chattanooga are three of the top ten cities in the country for flu cases. Dr. Ashton says the holidays could worsen the situation and create a further spread.
“We know that as people shift and they move around and congregate and are in cold weather areas of the country, indoors with poor ventilation, these respiratory pathogens like to do their thing, spread and transmit disease, and infect people, and that’s what we’re seeing,” said Dr. Ashton.
