Connect with us

News

US faces triple epidemic of flu, RSV, and covid

Published

on

The US is now in a flu epidemic, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and faces a triple epidemic of flu, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in young children, and covid-19, as cases rise and new variants appear, said a report by the British Medical Journal.

The BMJ report by award-winning medical journalist who writes for the public and for doctors, Janice Hopkins Tanne, says: Many precautions, such as mask wearing and social distancing, have been discarded and few Americans have taken the latest bivalent vaccines, behavioural changes that may have contributed to the spread of the viruses.

The CDC has reported that the early increases in seasonal influenza cases have continued nationwide. The south eastern and south central areas of the country had the highest levels of activity followed by the mid-Atlantic and the south central west coast regions. A second child is reported to have died from influenza.

So far this season, the CDC estimates there have been at least 1?600?000 illnesses, 13?000 hospital admissions, and 730 deaths from flu. It recommended that people over six months old receive an annual flu vaccine.Jose Romero, director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, said, “We’re seeing the highest influenza hospital admission rates for a decade.”

At the same time, cases of RSV have increased across most of the country. Most children get an RSV infection and recover by the time they are two years old. RSV has symptoms similar to a cold or flu, but it can be dangerous and sometimes fatal. There is no vaccine, although several are in development.

RSV is especially dangerous for premature infants, infants younger than six months, children younger than two years old who have chronic lung disease or congenital heart disease, children with weakened immune systems, and children who have neuromuscular disorders, including those who have difficulty swallowing or clearing mucus secretions. RSV can cause severe illness such as bronchiolitis and pneumonia. The CDC said that 1-2% of children younger than six months with RSV infection may need to be admitted to hospital—58?000 to 80?000 children each year.RSV can also be serious for older adults and an infection can worsen chronic health problems such as asthma or congestive heart failure.

Covid-19 cases and hospital admissions are rising modestly for the first time in several months but have increased dramatically in several states in the south and west. Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah have seen a 50% increase in cases in the past two weeks, according to the New York Times tracker. Hospital admissions have increased by 20% or more in eight states. Deaths have remained at about 350 per day. Until recently the BA.5 variant was the most common, but two new variants—BQ.1.1 and BQ.1—are increasing from about 3% of cases two weeks ago to about 11% now.



Continue Reading
Advertisement
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Latest News

Landslide Early Warnings issued to the districts of Kalutara, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya and Ratnapura

Published

on

By

The National Building Research Organisation [NBRO] has issued landslide early warnings to the districts of Kalutara, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya and Ratnapura effective from 0400hrs on 12th June 2026 to 0400hrs on 13th June 2026

Accordingly,
LEVEL I [YELLOW] landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Palindanuwara in the Kalutara district, Doluwa in the Kandy district, Ambagamuwa in the Nuwara Eliya district and Pelmadulla, Ayagama, Ratnapura, Godakawela, Kalawana and Nivitigala in the Ratnapura district

Continue Reading

News

Wife, counsel seek regular access to ex-Spy Chief Sallay held under President’s detention order

Published

on

Suresh Sallay

Wife of former State Intelligence Chief Maj. Gen. (Retd.) Suresh Sallay has asked CID Director retired SSP Shani Abeysekera to allow her, her family members and lawyers to visit her husband in the National Hospital, Colombo. Sallay’s counsel has also written to Abeysekera, asking for permission to visit the former spy held on a detention order signed by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.

The text of Manori’s letter: “I respectfully request your assistance in granting me, and my daughter or alternatively my son, permission to visit my husband, Rtd. Major General Suresh Sallay, who is currently at the National Hospital, Colombo.

“As you are aware, my husband is presently engaged in a fast-unto-death campaign. His physical condition and emotional well-being are of deep concern to our family. During this difficult period, the presence and support of his immediate family are extremely important to him.

“I firmly believe that regular visits from me with our daughter or our son would help uplift his spirits, provide him with much-needed emotional strength, and may encourage him to reconsider continuing this course of action. Family support can play a vital role in preserving his mental and emotional health while he remains hospitalised.

“In view of these exceptional circumstances, I kindly request that permission be granted for either me and my daughter or my son to visit him daily during the period of his hospitalisation.

“I would be most grateful for your compassionate consideration of this request.”

“The text of the counsel’s letter: “I write in my capacity as Counsel for Rtd. Major General Suresh Sallay, who is presently under detention and admitted to the National Hospital, Colombo.

As you are aware, Major General Sallay has embarked on a fast-unto-death campaign, giving rise to serious concerns regarding his physical and mental well-being. In these circumstances, it is imperative that I be granted reasonable and regular access to my client during his hospitalisation.

As his legal representative, I have a professional obligation to monitor his condition and obtain instructions from him so that I may accurately apprise the relevant courts of his health status and any developments affecting his rights and welfare. Effective legal representation requires continuous communication with my client, particularly in light of the grave circumstances presently confronting him.

I also wish to respectfully highlight that Major General Sallay has placed explicit trust and confidence in me as his counsel. Indeed, I was the first person he contacted following his arrest.

Given the trust he reposes in me, I believe I am uniquely positioned to engage with him constructively and persuade him to discontinue this campaign and instead place his confidence in the legal remedies and judicial processes available to him.

For these reasons, I respectfully request that I be granted permission to visit my client on a daily basis during the period of his hospitalization.

Such access would not only facilitate the discharge of my professional responsibilities but may also contribute meaningfully towards safeguarding his health and encouraging a resolution through lawful and institutional means.

Continue Reading

News

CIABOC summons Yoshitha over his participation in British Navy training programme

Published

on

Yoshitha

Yoshitha Rajapaksa, who served as a Lieutenant in the Sri Lanka Navy, has now been summoned to the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption next Tuesday (16) for questioning over his participation in a Royal Navy training programme in the United Kingdom outside established procedures.

The Commission is expected to record statements in relation to several complaints received regarding his recruitment and subsequent service in the Navy after he enlisted on December 14, 2006.

According to sources, the investigation focuses on allegations concerning the educational qualifications considered at the time of his enlistment, as well as foreign training opportunities he is said to have received while in service, which are suspected to have been granted in violation of due process.

The Bribery Commission has launched the inquiry under the provisions of the Anti-Corruption Act, officials said.

Continue Reading

Trending