As the flu, COVID-19, and RSV cases continue to rise across the country, health officials are growing increasingly concerned about the possibility of a triple epidemic. Emergency rooms are preparing for an influx of patients as the Centers for Disease Control reported over 780,000 flu illnesses and nearly 500 deaths from October until last week.

Dr. Brownstein, a physician, shared that certain age groups and individuals with prior medical conditions are more vulnerable to severe cases and even death from these three illnesses. “For those that are the youngest, those are the oldest. For those who have underlying conditions, the flu infection can be especially deadly,” he said.

While flu hospitalizations have been lower than they were at this time last year, there is a similar pattern of spikes in southern states. Many veterans are also at risk of losing their homes after the COVID mortgage forbearance program ends.

Health officials urge everyone to take precautions to prevent the spread of these illnesses, including wearing masks, practicing social distancing, washing hands frequently and getting vaccinated when available.