Health officials are warning of a possible "tripledemic" in the months ahead — meaning a confluence of cases of the flu, COVID-19, and respiratory syncytial virus, — more commonly known as RSV.
Hundreds of children in San Diego have been diagnosed with with the respiratory illness in the past few weeks, which often presents with symptoms similar to the common cold but can be serious and cause pneumonia and bronchiolitis.
Conversely, COVID-19 and the flu continue to present an elevated risk for seniors. Health experts say they anticipate an increase in reports of these illnesses in the months ahead.
Dr. Eric Topol, director of the Scripps Research Translational Institute, said the high amount of disease currently circulating in the community presents a complex dynamic when it comes to immunity and illness.
"On the one hand, an infection does rev up your immunity, but on the other, if you're hit hard by any one of these illnesses then that's a counter for [immunity]."
To avoid the possibility of infection, Topol recommends the use of a N95-grade mask.
He joined Midday Edition on on Wednesday with more on how this year's flu season poses new threats to vulnerable demographics.
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Rising cases of flu, RSV, and new COVID variants are raising concerns that the viruses could surge at once and stress hospitals. Then, California voters are being asked to enshrine reproductive rights into the state constitution in the upcoming election. We discuss the details of Proposition 1. Next, voters are weighing in on two sports betting propositions on the November ballot. And, political ads bombard the public with information about everything from sports betting to immigration. But who is responsible for making sure the content of those advertisements is factual? Finally, October is Filipino American History Month - and San Diego is home to one of the largest Filipino communities in the state of California. We take a look at the KPBS docuseries “Out of the Boondocks,” which features Filipino artists and creatives who discuss how the importance of their work ties into their cultural identities. -
A team of outside auditors is examining how San Diego State University conducts its sexual assault investigations. In other news, state lawmakers held a public hearing Wednesday, focused on helping California teachers prepare to teach ethnic studies. Plus, we break down the dialysis proposition that keeps on showing up on your ballot.
