It feels like everyone’s sick this winter. Here’s why - and how you can prevent it
Health experts in Australia are reporting a surge in winter illnesses, including influenza, COVID-19, and RSV. They attribute the high infection rates to a combination of declining vaccination uptake and the simultaneous circulation of multiple viruses.
Why it matters
Public health officials are concerned that low vaccination rates and overlapping viral seasons are creating a challenging environment for healthcare systems.
Share article Every winter, it seems more and more people are getting sick – some even more than once. But is it just our imagination, or is there actually something in the air?
For answers, nine.com.au turned to Dr Zac Turner and Kate Gunthorpe, Deputy Chief Pharmacist at TerryWhite Chemmart.
It feels like everyone’s getting sick right now, and health experts have theories as to why. iStock
It is widely known winter is the peak season for sickness, as everyone is bunched up indoors and away from the cold, increasing the chances of illness spreading.
This winter, Australians aren’t just facing the common cold or flu, but a number of other illnesses.
Turner is “seeing a mix of viruses circulating at the same time, including influenza, COVID-19, RSV (Respiratory syncytial virus) and the common cold.”
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