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WEYMOUTH, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — Dr. Todd Ellerin, Director of Infectious Disease at South Shore Health, is concerned about the possibility of a "tridemic" this winter.
If there is a fast rise in COVID, respiratory syncytial virus, and flu cases in the same time frame it could turn into a "tridemic." Ellerin said South Shore Health has already seen rising cases of RSV cases hitting earlier than normal this fall. They are starting to see rising flu cases as well.
RSV can be dangerous for infants and children as symptoms tend to be more severe than in adult cases. RSV is the most common cause of bronchiolitis and pneumonia in children less than a year old, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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"We're expecting some of the scrabble variants that we're seeing surge in places like Europe and Asia," Ellerin told WBZ's Kim Tunnicliffe. "We're expecting that they will be here at our doorstep very soon."
Ellerin believes this winter could be a particularly bad respiratory season and is concerned as many hospitals are at high capacity this fall.
"We are having such a capacity problem right now that it doesn't take a lot to perturb and throw any hospital system over the edge," he said.
Ellerin is urging residents to stay up to date on flu vaccines and COVID boosters to help protect against possible illnesses this winter.
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