PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Three illnesses collide: COVID-19, the flu and RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus. Hospitalizations from all three are on the rise in this country, including in the Philadelphia region. It’s being referred to as a “tripledemic,” and medical professionals are concerned about meeting the needs of patients.
“It is certainly a challenge right now,” said Dr. Martin Topiel, an infectious disease specialist at Virtua Health hospitals in South Jersey.
“RSV we see in little kids, typically, but now we are seeing it in adults as well. And this is probably because of the last couple of years people staying sort of locked in, maybe wearing masks more, so there has been less exposure to these viruses.”
Doctors at Penn Medicine, according to a statement, are also continuing to see an increase in patients with respiratory viral infections, including COVID-19 and the flu, but they are seeing evidence that RSV infections among adults have peaked. And among adults with the flu, they said, few have symptoms severe enough to require admission to Penn hospitals.
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However, they said, flu vaccination remains an effective and important part of protecting oneself and others: “We encourage anyone who has not already received their annual flu shot to be vaccinated as quickly as possible to receive optimal protection as the flu season progresses.”
Topiel says there has been an increase in emergency room activity at his hospital because of the tripledemic, and staff members are getting sick as well. He says the hospital has seen more influenza cases so far this year than all of last year.
And on top of that, there’s an antiviral medication shortage for flu patients.
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That’s because, he says, the amount of medication supplies for this year was based on the lower number of influenza cases over the past couple of years.
“It was not anticipated with this amount of flu by the pharmaceutical companies,” he said.
People who are elderly or who have compromised immune systems should be extra cautious and get the appropriate vaccines and boosters, and to mask in large groups and indoor gatherings, Topiel said.
“You know, this was a very difficult time coming out of the COVID pandemic. People are trying to reestablish their lives. On the other hand, we are being challenged with this tripledemic, and holiday gatherings are certainly going to increase the risk,” he said.
Topiel says because family gatherings will increase the likelihood of contracting or spreading a virus, individuals should consider their personal risks when making plans.
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