U.S. faces rising cases of whooping cough, flu, RSV, and COVID-19
Health authorities report rising cases of respiratory diseases, with Arkansas facing its largest whooping cough outbreak and national projections estimating millions of flu illnesses this season.
Respiratory illnesses are surging in the United States, according to a CIDRAP analysis of national data. Their observations are reported in an article by Laine Bergeson.
Specifically, the U.S. is experiencing rising incidence of whooping cough, influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and COVID-19. Additional key observations:
Arkansas is experiencing its highest known statewide outbreak of whooping cough, with over 500 confirmed cases across at least 50 counties.
Influenza A remains the most common strain as of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention week 52 report. According to Bergeson, the CDC predicts “7.5 million illnesses, 81,000 hospitalizations, and 3,100 deaths from the flu so far this season.”
