U.S. dangers a ‘twindemic’ of COVID and flu this fall if what occurred in Australia is any information

The U.S. might be subsequent, consultants say. The nation ought to put together for a “fairly dangerous flu season” with COVID circumstances intermingled, prime U.S. infectious illness professional and presidential doctor Dr. Anthony Fauci lately informed Bloomberg.

His prediction, shared by different consultants, is predicated on circumstances in Australia this previous summer time (its winter). Scientists within the Northern Hemisphere watch the Southern Hemisphere for indicators of what the flu season may be like. This yr, Australia’s flu season was shorter than regular, however circumstances peaked earlier and far greater, and youngsters and youths bore the brunt.

“Should you take a look at what occurred within the flu season within the Southern Hemisphere, Australia bought whacked fairly badly,” Dr. Georges Benjamin, govt director of the American Public Well being Affiliation, informed Fortune. “I anticipate a foul flu season on the very least,” if not a foul COVID season as nicely.

The primary flu season after the beginning of the pandemic was virtually nonexistent, seemingly because of COVID-19 precautions like masks, social distancing, and quarantining that additionally prevented the unfold of the flu. Scientists then predicted that final yr’s flu season could be a doozy—a  “twindemic” of types, on account of its overlap with COVID. 

And but it wasn’t, in accordance with a current article within the Journal of the American Medical Affiliation. Whereas the U.S. flu season was worse than the season prior, it was delicate in comparison with earlier pre-pandemic flu seasons.

This yr, nonetheless, COVID precautions are nearly nonexistent—and the U.S. might be poised for the long-awaited phenomenon, Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious illness professor at Vanderbilt College, lately informed NPR.

“This might very nicely be the yr through which we see a twindemic,” he stated. “That’s, we now have a surge in COVID and concurrently a rise in influenza. We might have them each affecting our inhabitants on the similar time.”

Flu circumstances started ticking up within the U.S. final month, with almost 700 circumstances reported the second-to-last week of September, and the p.c of constructive flu assessments rising over the previous month.

Final week officers from the White Home and Facilities for Illness Management met with well being system and hospital leaders on account of issues relating to a possible surge of each COVID and flu later this yr. Federal well being officers are encouraging People to obtain their flu shot and new Omicron-specific vaccine booster on the similar time this fall, saying doing so is each secure and handy.

Benjamin additionally recommends stocking up on COVID assessments.

“Should you get flu-like signs, verify for COVID,” he stated. “And if it’s not COVID, go to the clinic and see if it’s flu. It’s most likely going to be one or the opposite.”