COVID and flu on the rise in California

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SAN JOSE, California – Health officials say respiratory infections are increasing across the state. COVID-19, RSV and influenza are considered a triple risk this winter and others are taking precautions to stay healthy.

The numbers are not nearly as high as they’ve been over the last three years, but health experts say they’re noticing an increase, and people need to remember that these viruses are still out there.

“The difference between now and four years ago, is another respiratory virus has joined the mix of influenza, RSV and now COVID,” said Dr. Monica Gandhi, an infectious disease expert at UCSF.

According to the California Department of Public Health, respiratory infections are trending upward, with a 4. 8% increase in COVID-19 hospitalizations last week. At the same time, hospitalizations due to flu cases increased by 18. 8%.

“Of all three of those infections, the flu is actually the one that I’m looking at the most. COVID has started to rise, but it’s really been influenza that’s had an uptick in the last two weeks,” Gandhi said.

Gandhi says cases of RSV or respiratory syncytial virus have also been detected but so far, not as much as it was last year. She says older people tend to be more at risk of being infected.

“This year is very unique. We have an RSV vaccine for people who are 60 years and older. That’s incredibly important, and we’ve never had that before,” said Gandhi.

Nationally, Gandhi says about 50,000 people die each year from flu infections and that COVID-19 now has the same mark.

“Unfortunately, it is probably true that COVID joins the flu in causing this number of deaths per year, but this basically affects older people. Our COVID booster vaccination rate is about 7% overall and only 14% among seniors. “Gandhi said.

Health officials encourage other people 65 and older to get vaccinated against COVID and the flu because they are at risk and more likely to experience severe symptoms if they become infected.

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