Respiratory illness on the rise in the US

A significant increase in respiratory diseases has been reported by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) among the general population. The incidence of influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and, most recently, COVID-19 among the American population is rising, affecting individuals of various age groups. The most recent data indicate that children, including those of very young age, are particularly affected, with an increase in cases of pneumonia and infections with the RSV. In the last week of November, 21 hospitalisations per 100,000 newborn babies were recorded due to the syncytial virus. The CDC has observed that the relatively low overall vaccination rate may have a detrimental impact on public health, potentially leading to an increase in hospitalisations due to complications associated with these diseases. Regarding vaccination rates for the SARS-CoV-2 virus, less than one in five adults and approximately one in twelve children have received the vaccine. And only 37% of adults and 33% of children have been vaccinated against influenza.