As the winter chill grips Central Texas, the local population is grappling with more than the cold. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have sounded the alarm on a trio of respiratory viruses making the rounds — with influenza, COVID-19, and RSV patients crowding hospitals as the festive period looms. According to CBS Austin, the flu is hitting hard, and COVID-19 cases are inching upward, a concern echoed by the emergency department medical director at St. David's South Austin Medical Center, Dr. Vard Curtis, who noted a "big uptick in flu, a small rise in COVID."
Amidst the festivities, health officials are reminding folks to wash their hands often, get vaccinated, and keep their germs to themselves if they're feeling under the weather. "Flu to you and me can be a couple of days of feeling lousy, but flu to an elderly person or someone with a kidney transplant or cancer diagnosis... it can be fatal," Dr. Curtis told CBS Austin. The Texas Department of State Health Services has confirmed the grim forecast, reporting a 5.5 percent increase in positive flu tests in hospitals over the previous week.
Meanwhile, in the sewers, the signs are equally ominous. Wastewater analysis in Texas is painting a bleak picture with "high" COVID-19 levels ahead of holiday travel, according to Axios. While vaccinations offer some defense, COVID-19 remains a serious risk, particularly to the vulnerable. This year alone, the state has mourned more than 2,900 COVID-19-related deaths, a steep fall from last year's 14,646 fatalities, but a reminder the virus still poses a significant threat.
Austin-Travis County is urging caution as wastewater surveillance suggests an uptick in COVID-19 prevalence from late November to early December. Desmar Walkes, the Austin-Travis County Health Authority, advocates for responsible celebration, stating, "We're going to be hugging and sharing meals and laughing and enjoying this holiday season, and its best to do that if you're not sick, so you're not spreading it to loved ones-- especially those that can't fight off infection as well," she told CBS Austin.
The wastewater data has nonetheless provided a lens into the pandemic's persistence. Despite limitations, the evidence available points to a worsening situation that echoes past winter surges, indicating that for some, extra precautions may be essential to safely enjoy the holiday cheer.
