Alarm sounded on US being hit by 'twindemic'

The United States faces two deadly infectious diseases this autumn and winter if many people are diagnosed with flu and COVID-19, doctors and public health experts have warned.

The warning of a so-called 'twindemic', a deluge of people being infected and hospitalized with flu and COVID-19, comes after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that cases of influenza are already higher than normal at this time of year.

William Schaffner, professor of preventive medicine and infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee, said: "There is a substantial risk of a twindemic this fall … We anticipate that as the weather gets colder and people go indoors, once again there will be opportunities for this virus (COVID-19) to be transmitted to be contagious to others.

"Influenza has started up about a month early in several places in the country, (and) particularly in the southeast, where I am, we have already seen many people hospitalized with laboratory-diagnosed influenza."

Higher caseloads

The flu season typically occurs in December and peaks in February. But this month cases of influenza are notably higher in New York and Washington, and in the states of Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas.

One of the most notable flu strains of concern is H3N2, which tends to be dangerous for those aged over 65, with a weak immune system and the very young.

There are fears that a deluge of cases of both viruses could strain the healthcare system. The CDC said that from 2010 to 2020 there were between 140,000 and 710,000 hospitalizations from flu per year and between 12,000 and 52,000 deaths a year.

"We anticipate that this will be a vigorous winter respiratory virus season," Schaffner said. "And we could have concurrent coincidental flu and COVID increases, which once again, could strain our healthcare system substantially."

Cases of flu diminished significantly amid the pandemic because of the precautions that people were taking against contracting COVID-19, including wearing masks, cleaning hands frequently and social distancing.

As more adults return to work and mingle in public, several public health experts say it will be important for everyone to be vaccinated against the flu and COVID-19 to aid their fight against infection.

Doctors and public health experts recommend that anyone eligible to take both the flu shot and COVID-19 vaccines do so.

Flu shots and COVID-19 vaccines can be administered together, and those 65 and older as well as pregnant women are being advised to take the shots because they are both susceptible to contracting the viruses.

However, amid continuing fears over vaccinations, the number of people receiving the flu vaccine this year appears to be lower than in previous years, according to official figures.

An estimated 7.5 million flu vaccinations were administered in pharmacies in the week ending Sept 24 compared with an estimated 7.9 million in the corresponding week last year.

The best way to stay protected against both flu and COVID-19 is by being inoculated, Schaffner said.

"Let's begin with vaccination, because that's fundamental. The influenza vaccine, which is widely available now, now's the time to receive it. And, of course, on the COVID side, the new updated COVID booster for which everyone aged 5 years and older now is eligible."