Clinicians should be on the lookout for new spikes in non-COVID-19 respiratory viruses, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
There has been a steady increase in the circulation of respiratory viruses since federal and local authorities began lifting non-pharmaceutical pandemic mitigation measures in early 2021, the agency cautioned clinicians Friday.
“Circulation of respiratory viruses could resume at pre-pandemic levels after COVID-19 mitigation practices become less stringent,” it stated in its Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Influenza viruses and human metapneumovirus, which can cause upper and lower respiratory disease in older adults, were at historic lows through May. But in April, there was an increase in respiratory syncytial virus, a cause of common cold symptoms that can sometimes progress to severe illness and death in vulnerable elders.
Meanwhile, common human coronaviruses, parainfluenza viruses and respiratory adenoviruses have been increasing since January or February 2021. Rhinoviruses and enteroviruses began to increase in June 2020.
Clinicians should be aware of this increased circulation, some of which may occur off-season, and consider multipathogen testing in their patients, CDC said. In addition, the agency expects flu cases to increase this fall as workplaces and schools relax mitigation measures. It is advocating for standard influenza infection prevention measures and a return to regular fall season flu vaccination.
