VIDEO: 'What will happen this winter' with seasonal viruses like flu, RSV?

NEW YORK — In a video interview, John V. Williams, MD, explains to providers what they can expect from seasonal viruses like influenza, human metapneumovirus and respiratory syncytial virus this winter.

Williams is the Henry L. Hillman Professor of Pediatric Immunology at the University of Pittsburgh and director of the Institute of Infection, Inflammation and Immunity in Children (i4Kids) at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. He said that preventive measures to curb the spread of SARS-CoV-2 significantly diminished the circulation of seasonal viruses for more than a year, but as COVID-19 measures relax and people begin to gather in groups more frequently, the viruses can reemerge and take advantage of their lack of immunity. For example, the U.S. saw an offseason spike in RSV, which Williams said may end soon.

However, Williams said he expects “to see a more severe flu season this winter due to both the lack of immunity and the relaxing of mitigation, masking and distancing that will allow flu to spread.”

Reference:

Williams JV. Keynote presentation: No flu last winter, RSV this summer? What does this respiratory season hold? Presented at: Infectious Diseases in Children Symposium; Nov. 20-21, 2021; New York (hybrid meeting).