CDC experts warn to 'exercise precaution' as viruses rise: report

04 June 2023

Although COVID-19 is no longer a global health emergency, experts are warning of an uptick in other viruses as summer commences and as travel increases, NBC reports.

Furthermore, according to NBC, even though COVID hospitalizations have significantly decreased, "As temperatures rise, people will increase their chances of getting infected just by gathering inside in air conditioned areas, behind closed windows and doors."

Additionally, other viruses like "Enterovirus," which "is an umbrella term for many different viruses, such as hand, foot and mouth disease, and even the typical summer cold," as well as, Lyme, norovirus and Mpox, are worth trying to avoid.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), per NBC, "reported a spring spike of human metapneumovirus. HMPV is a respiratory virus that's related to RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) and is usually spread through coughing, sneezing or touching surfaces that contain infected respiratory droplets."

However, CDC spokesperson told NBC although cases have increased, "HMPV activity right now is not remarkable," noting "the spread is low."

Dr. Buddy Creech, a pediatric infectious disease expert at Vanderbilt University Medical Center told NBC, "We've seen a ton of HMPV," adding, "Most cases are mild, involving wheezing and 'lots of snot.'"

Still, NBC reports, "While the U.S. seems to have stabilized for the moment, summer travel is just getting started. Slight upticks in other viruses have put infectious diseases experts on alert as we head into the summer of 2023."

Infectious disease specialist at Northwestern Medicine in Chicago, Dr. Michael Angarone, said, "From spring until late summer and early fall, the infections we worry about are often related to exposure to different insects."

Dr. Anthony K. Leung, an infectious disease specialist at the Cleveland Clinic, cautions, "Always remember that there's some unusual and unpredictable stuff out there," adding, "Exercise precaution."

Leung added, "You can never really predict the future, but I would hope that we'll have a boring summer."

NBC's full report is available at this link.

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