As COVID-19 becomes a thing of the past, other respiratory diseases and infections such as RSV, enterovirus, and others can sicken Americans.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported a spring increase in human metapneumovirus (HMPV), a respiratory infection related to RSV (respiratory syncytial virus). It is spread by coughing, sneezing or touching surfaces that have infected respiratory droplets.
Dr. Buddy Creech, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee, said: “We see a ton of HMPV. Most cases are mild, involving wheezing and a lot of snoring.”
However, the CDC ruled out that HMPV will increase this summer, despite the increase in cases.
A CDC spokesperson said: “Right now HMPV activity is not significant and the risk of an HMPV outbreak is low.”
What will come this summer?
Dr. Anthony K. Leung, an infectious disease specialist at the Cleveland Clinic, said: “You can’t really predict the future, but I would expect that we will have a boring summer.”
There were reports of non-seasonal infections such as croup, strep A and RSV in children. It is a winter virus that infected people in the summers of 2021 and 2022.
As summer travel has just begun, this year’s mild pre-summer viral infections have raised concerns among healthcare professionals.
What about the COVID cases?
Although it is not possible to track cases of COVID-19, some states have reported high levels of COVID in wastewater testing.
It is too early to predict an increase in cases, but as people start congregating indoors in air-conditioned spaces, cases are expected to increase.
Jody Guest, professor of epidemiology at Emory’s Rollins School of Public Health in Atlanta, noted: “Just like in the winter, any time you’re indoors, and someone has it, it can spread very easily. “
The CDC maintained that hospitalizations for Covid have declined since the start of the year.
Enterovirus
Enteroviruses include a number of diseases such as hand, foot and mouth disease, and even the common summer cold, which are spread to others by coughing and sneezing.
These often cause symptoms such as rash, fever, loss of appetite and sore throat.
Dr. Amina Ahmed, chief of pediatric infectious diseases and immunology at Atrium Health Levine Children’s Hospital in Charlotte, North Carolina, said: “This is the virus we expect to see in the summer.”
Enteroviruses can sometimes be severe. For example, Enterovirus D68 has been linked to a polio-like condition in children, called acute flaccid myelitis, or AFM. Children develop unusual weakness in their arms or legs.
These cases were typically reported every other year in late summer, which would have been increasing in 2021 if COVID had not occurred.
According to Ahmed, it is unclear whether the virus will resume its old patterns.
Holiday bugs, norovirus
Different insects cause different diseases. As the pandemic halted all travel, doctors maintained that it could also lead to an increase in travel-related illness.
“Always remember that there are some unusual and unexpected things out there. Be careful.” Leung said.
Norovirus is sometimes associated with croup in which patients may vomit and have diarrhea. These diseases are also spread through close contact.
However, not all summer illnesses are spread from person to person.
Dr. Michael Angaron, an infectious disease specialist at Northwestern Medicine in Chicago, said: “From spring through late summer and early fall, the infections we’re concerned about are often related to different insects. happens from.”
In tropical climates, diseases like West Nile, dengue and malaria are likely.
The CDC warns that the number of tick-borne diseases such as babesiosis, which is spreading in the Northeast, is increasing every year in the United States. Its symptoms include:
- fever
- It’s getting cold.
- Headaches and body aches
- Nausea
- Muscle and joint pain
Angaron said: “If you’re planning to go out in nature, make sure you protect yourself from ticks and mosquitoes by using repellants, long pants and long-sleeved shirts.”
“The sooner you find the tick and remove it, the less likely you are to get an infection.”
MP Oaks
“MPOs are predicted to increase slightly during the summer,” said Dr. Michael Sagg, associate dean of global health at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
It is spread during close contact with others.
“Mpox is not seasonal. It’s really about the way people come together. That’s something we want to be really clear about looking at and getting people vaccinated,” said Judy Guest. .