Has a ‘quademmic’ hit America? 4 Viral infections and what to know about them
Four viruses are circulating in the US, sparking fears of a possible “quademmic”.
Influenza, Covid-19, RSV and norovirus are at “very high” levels across the country, said Samuel Scarpino, professor of health sciences and director of Eye and Life Sciences at Northeastern University in Boston.
“We are in a very serious situation when it comes to pathogens,” he told Fox News Digital.
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Scarpino added, “According to data from our National Wastewater Management System, some parts of the country, like Boston, appear to have peak levels for all four diseases, but cases in other areas are still on the rise.”
There are currently vaccines for covid, flu and RSV, but not for norovirus – although there is an mRNA vaccine in development, one expert suggests. (iStock)
Dr. Mark Siegel, professor of medicine at NYU Langone Health and a senior medical analyst for Fox News, pointed out that now is the peak respiratory virus season.
“It’s not a ‘quad-demic,’ multiple respiratory viruses and bacteria at once,” he told Fox News Digital.
In addition to all four viruses, Siegel warns of some bacterial outbreaks that can cause respiratory illness, such as mycoplasma, pertussis, and strep.
Viruses by the numbers
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported an 18.8% positive rate for flu tests for the week ending Jan. 11, which it says is “higher than seasonal influenza activity in most parts of the country.”
Influenza-related deaths of 11 children were also observed, bringing the total number of deaths this season to 27, the agency said.
“We are in a very serious situation when it comes to bloodborne pathogens.”
As of Jan. 11, Covid-19 was at 6.6% test positivity, 1.3% of emergency room visits were diagnoses and 1.8% of all deaths linked to the virus, according to CDC data.
RSV (respiratory syncytial virus, a highly contagious virus that attacks the lungs, nose and throat) has a positivity rate of 8.9 percent.
When these common seasonal viruses start, it is important for a doctor to have a “great relationship” with the patient’s primary care physician. (iStock)
Cases of norovirus, commonly known as stomach bugs, are also on the rise.
From August 1 to December 11, 2024, there were 495 reported outbreaks of norovirus in the U.S., compared to 363 during the same period last year, according to the CDC.
The difference between viruses
Kenneth Perry, MD, an emergency physician in South Carolina, said the hospital’s recent emergency room visits have been linked to these infections.
“From a cough to a runny nose and even a fever, it’s hard to tell the difference between different viruses,” he told Fox News Digital. “For most people, knowing which virus they have is just an academic discussion. But for some patients, the specific virus is very important.”
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The chance of someone having all four viruses at the same time is very low, Perry said – “but it’s not completely out of the question that people can have two or even three at the same time.”
Siegel agreed that it can be challenging for internists and infectious disease specialists to tell the difference when so many viruses are circulating.
It’s not a “quad-demic,” multiple respiratory viruses and bacteria at once, Dr. Mark Siegel told Fox News Digital. (iStock)
“Respiratory systems in hospitals, urgent care centers and laboratories can help distinguish between them,” he said.
There are rapid tests that test for both types of influenza and covid at the same time, Scarpino points out.
Possible risk factors
“Of the four viruses that are in widespread circulation, all of them are at risk of serious illness in the elderly,” Dr. Jacob Glanville, CEO of Centivax, a San Francisco biotechnology company, told Fox News Digital.
Experts agree that RSV poses special risks to newborns.
“Of the four circulating viruses, all are at increased risk of severe disease in the elderly.”
“Breathing through the nose is important for young children, and RSV can cause severe nasal congestion,” Perry said. This congestion disrupts children’s ability to consume enough calories, they added.
For norovirus, dehydration can be a “major problem,” Perry says.
“Again, young infants can’t drink water or sports drinks to help keep them hydrated.”
There are combined rapid tests that test for both types of influenza and covid at the same time. (iStock)
Long-term covid is a “significant concern” for most adults, Glanville said, “because chronic pain is not yet fully understood and effective treatments have not yet been developed.”
Scarpino said influenza has historically been the leading cause of death in the US.
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He added: “Although we are more used to worrying about Covid these days, it is important to take the flu seriously.”
People with underlying risk factors are more likely to develop severe disease from all four viruses, Scarpino added.
Prevention and treatment
To protect against these four blood-borne viruses, Glanville recommends getting vaccinated when available, avoiding contact with infected people, and following proper hygiene procedures.
“The best thing you can do to protect yourself from these viruses is to keep your hands clean,” advises Perry. “Especially washing hands after touching public places is going to be the best way to prevent any of these viruses.”
“The best thing you can do to avoid these viruses is to keep your hands clean,” advises an emergency room physician. (iStock)
There are currently vaccines for Covid, flu and RSV, but not for norovirus — although there is an mRNA vaccine in development, Scarpino points out.
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“Even in places where cases have started to fall, we are far from out of the woods, so there is still time to vaccinate,” he said.
For those who contract any virus, Siegel recommends staying hydrated, getting plenty of rest, and keeping a close eye on symptoms.
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Sick people should stay at home, avoid direct contact with others and wear masks in close quarters, the doctor advised.
Perry noted that flu and Covid are “cyclical” in their severity.
“The best thing you can do to protect yourself from these viruses is to keep your hands clean.”
“There are years when the flu virus is very mild and others when it’s more dangerous,” he told Fox News Digital.
When these common seasonal viruses start, Perry says it’s important for patients to have “great communication” with their primary care physician.
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“This way, their risk category is known to their doctor and even if they get one of these viruses, they can easily get the right care for their health.”
