Droplets may spread from an infected person to someone close by (for example, by sneezing), but droplets or aerosols from the mouth and nose can also contaminate items or can linger in the air which then spreads the infection to the next person who touches or inhales them. Respiratory viruses are transmitted from person-to-person when people are close to each other for prolonged periods of time. These are the exact circumstances that would promote transmission and illness.” “And there are several winter holidays that further promote travel, family gatherings, and people once again being very close to each other. “The easiest explanation, and it’s only a partial explanation, is that winter drives people indoors, closer together, for longer periods of time,” Dr. But why do we see greater numbers of cases of these viral diseases when the weather gets colder? Prior to the pandemic, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that seasonal influenza may result in 290,000-650,000 deaths and 3-5 million cases worldwide each year, while RSV is estimated to account for 29,000 deaths, and 3.5 million cases worldwide each year. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, it’s estimated that 6.6 million people have died worldwide, with nearly 650 million confirmed infections.
Other causes of the common cold, including rhinovirus, adenovirus and human metapneumovirus also pose a threat this season, though it is the “big three” that continue to make headlines – and with good reason. “All of these… are active simultaneously, not to mention that there are other winter respiratory viruses that have not received quite as much publicity.” “People are using the word ‘tripledemic’ to refer to three prominent respiratory viruses that began their circulation, unseasonably, very early this year,” Schaffner says. William Schaffner, MD, is medical director for the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID), a US organisation that educates and engages the public communities and healthcare professionals about infectious diseases across the lifespan. But what is it about age that makes some people more vulnerable to infection, and what can we do to reduce their impact?
The combination of three prominent respiratory viruses this winter – influenza virus, SARS-CoV-2 (which causes COVID-19), and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) – is raising the risk for older and at-risk adults.
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