On November 4, 2022, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a health advisory related to evidence of early and increased respiratory illnesses, particularly among children, during the 2022-2023 fall and winter seasons. A variety of respiratory viruses are co-circulating, including Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), the flu, COVID-19 and others.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, seasonal circulation of non-COVID-19 respiratory viruses was atypically low compared to pre-pandemic data, likely due to mask wearing and social distancing. This season, as respiratory virus cases surge and COVID-19 continues to circulate, health officials are concerned about further strain on the healthcare system.
According to the CDC, “this early increase in disease incidence highlights the importance of optimizing respiratory virus prevention and treatment measures, including prompt vaccination and antiviral treatment.”
For more information about currently circulating respiratory viruses and recommendations for healthcare providers, consult the CDC health advisory.