The tripledemic is raging on across the United States and doesn’t seem likely to let up anytime soon. Luckily, there are some ways to protect yourself, and 911OccMed can help with many of them. With our total workplace wellness solutions we can help keep your workplace healthy this winter!
What is the tripledemic?
Before diving into the protections, let’s first look at what the tripledemic is. It is an unofficial term for this season, in which 3 different respiratory illnesses are all poised to pose a major threat to the US population: The flu, RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus infection), and COVID-19.
RSV is a common seasonal infection, especially among young children. This year, the number of infections is much higher than usual. When someone comes down with RSV, they tend to experience cold-like symptoms and recover within a week or two. But those who are particularly young or old, or who have compromised immune systems, can be at risk of more severe infection from RSV. It is spread through contact with contaminated surfaces.
In contrast, COVID-19 is spread through the air, not through direct contact with contaminated surfaces. It tends to have a bit longer of an incubation period, so symptoms appear gradually. When someone becomes infected with COVID, they can display a range of symptoms from cough and shortness of breath to fatigue, headaches, and sore throat.
The flu, or influenza, tends to have a pretty sudden onset, and can cause a very high fever along with body aches, fatigue, sore throat, and nausea or vomiting. The flu can spread either through contact with contaminated surfaces or through the air, so it is highly contagious.
Any of these illnesses on their own can make for a rough winter. But with all 3 peaking during this 2022-23 season, even more Americans are being impacted than usual.
How long will it last?
In short, this tripledemic doesn’t look like it’s going away anytime soon. While all 3 illnesses tend to see higher transmission during the winter months, they all peak at slightly different times. For instance, the flu tends to see its highest rate of cases after the new year, while RSV tends to peak in December and January.
There is no saying how long the respiratory illness season this winter will last, but it is likely that we haven’t seen the worst of it yet, as temperatures continue to cool off across most of the country, and people gather in large groups for holiday celebrations.
Protections available
There is some good news amongst all this doom and gloom. There are protections available and ways you can work to keep yourself and those around you safe this winter. First and foremost, get vaccinated. Vaccines are currently available for both COVID-19 and influenza. While this doesn’t guarantee you won’t get sick, it can greatly lower your chances of severe illness. Vaccinations against COVID-19 and the flu are available through 911OccMed’s mobile clinic.
A few other ways you can keep yourself and your workplace safe: Wash your hands or use hand sanitizer regularly. Wipe down high-contact surfaces like desks or conference room tables on a regular basis. Most importantly, if you or someone in your household is sick, stay home and avoid contact with others to prevent spreading the illness.
How 911OccMed Can Help
As a one-stop shop for all your workplace wellness needs, let us at 911OccMed help keep your workforce safe and healthy this winter. We can administer testing and vaccination right on site, making it quick and convenient for all your employees to get vaccinated. Learn more about our mobile clinic and all our workplace wellness services at https://911occmed.com/.