Respiratory illnesses slam US: “Perfect storm for a terrible holiday season” - Ars Technica

With SARS-CoV-2 still circulating and seasonal viruses, including influenza and RSV, making up for lost time during the pandemic, the US is getting slammed by respiratory illnesses.

Cases of influenza-like illnesses (ILIs) are soaring throughout the country, with 47 states seeing "very high" or "high" activity levels, according to the latest CDC data.

ILI cases and hospitalizations are higher for this point in the season than they have been at this point in every previous season since the 2010-2011 season.

The number of new hospitalizations with laboratory-confirmed cases of influenza nearly doubled in the week ending on November 26 over the week prior, with roughly 19,600 hospitalizations in the week ending November 26 compared with 11,000 in the previous week.

Today, CNN reported that some hospitals are facing a shortage of medical-grade cribs amid the rise in respiratory illnesses.

"This public health emergency order is necessary now as hospitals and emergency rooms are operating above their licensed capacity due to a surge in respiratory viruses and are now experiencing an unsustainable strain on healthcare providers," the New Mexico Health Department said.

"While this is encouraging, respiratory viruses continue to spread at high levels nationwide and even in areas where RSV may be decreasing; our hospital systems continue to be stretched with high levels of patients with other respiratory illnesses," she warned.

However, when asked today whether the agency would consider basing the recommendation on respiratory illness transmission overall, Walensky said the agency was "actively looking into" it.