Travelers enter the entrance of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Virginia, USA on April 14, 2022. (Photo provided by Ting Shen/Xinhua)
Health experts say the rise in respiratory illnesses is due to several factors, including holiday gatherings, more people unvaccinated and the emergence of new coronavirus variants that may be more contagious. It is said that this is due to a number of factors.
LOS ANGELES, Dec. 25 (Xinhua) As the number of influenza and COVID-19 infections increases in the United States during the holidays, health experts are warning of the increased health risks posed by the simultaneous spread of respiratory illnesses. Are concerned.
The number of respiratory illnesses that cause people to seek medical care has increased or is increasing in most regions of the country, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Health experts say the increase is due to several factors, including holiday gatherings, more people not being vaccinated and the emergence of new coronavirus variants that may be more contagious. It is said that there are factors.
Seasonal influenza activity is increasing in the United States and continues to increase in most regions of the country, according to the latest CDC data.
The CDC estimates that the flu has caused at least 5.3 million cases, 54,000 hospitalizations and 3,200 deaths in the United States so far this season.
The number of weekly influenza hospitalizations continues to rise, with more than 9,800 patients hospitalized with influenza in the week ending December 16, according to the CDC.
A total of 14 influenza-related pediatric deaths have been reported in the country this season.
According to the CDC, the rate of positive influenza tests and emergency department visits due to influenza are increasing nationwide.
Meanwhile, the new coronavirus subvariant JN.1 is rapidly spreading in the United States and has become an important cause of novel coronavirus infections in the country.
According to the CDC, JN.1 is currently the fastest growing variant in the United States and the most prevalent variant, accounting for more than 44% of new infections nationwide, and is the most prevalent variant ever reported. This is an increase from 21.4%.
A masked person visits the National Mall on March 29, 2022 in Washington, DC, USA. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)
The CDC estimates that JN.1 is most contagious in the Northeast region, which includes New Jersey and New York, accounting for nearly 57% of cases.
JN.1 is closely related to the variant BA.2.86, which the CDC has been tracking since August and was first detected in the United States in September 2023.
JN.1 is likely to be more transmissible than other variants and “or perhaps better able to evade the immune system than other circulating variants,” the CDC said. Stated.
Health experts are concerned that the simultaneous spread of respiratory illnesses could increase the risk of widespread impacts on public health and healthcare systems, and are taking steps to reduce the spread of infection and avoid severe symptoms. It urges the public to take preventive measures such as getting vaccinated and following health guidelines. The outcome of the virus. ■