With sick season trends getting more unpredictable every year, ISID explains how early detection and proactive steps are our best defense.
Every August and September, the return of U.S. children to classrooms marks the start of the sick season, where close contact and shared indoor spaces create prime conditions for the spread of illnesses like influenza, COVID-19, RSV, and norovirus. Back-to-school season is closely followed by the holidays, which last year saw approximately 115 million Americans travel — movement that further exacerbates the transmission of infections.
Between 3% and 11% of Americans contract the flu annually. Despite the expected yearly influx of such infections into U.S. households, it’s important to note that winter illnesses are starting to appear earlier in the season. Research shows influenza hospitalizations in countries including the United States have peaked an average of 4.3 weeks earlier since the 2019-2020 season.
This earlier onset emphasizes the importance of early detection of cases and timely preventative measures to protect public health. So, what can public health bodies and governments do to curb the impact of winter infections? And how can you keep your family safe?
Detection data is everything
Better understanding of annual disease trends is critical for state and federal authorities to prepare for winter infections. This includes better allocation of resources, such as hospital beds, vaccines, and therapeutics, to areas that were hotspots in previous years.
At the International Society for Infectious Diseases (ISID), we’ve seen firsthand the value of real-time data in detecting and monitoring infections before they escalate into public health crises. For instance, our global innovative surveillance system, the Program for Monitoring Emerging Diseases (ProMED), has enabled us to monitor some of the most urgent outbreaks in recent history — including publishing the first reports of COVID-19 in 2019, Ebola in 2014, and SARS in 2003.
Public bodies like the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and UN agencies rely on ProMED’s timely data to inform their many response strategies, highlighting its crucial role in global health security. While the annual flu season may seem less serious than some international emergencies, winter illnesses can still devastate student and vulnerable populations, local workforces, and economies, so their urgency shouldn’t be downplayed.
Mitigating the societal and economic burden of winter infections relies on implementing year-round monitoring of pathogens. Equally important is the commitment to transparent data sharing and collaboration between states and counties, as well as with public health entities around the world. This kind of collaboration is facilitated by public health events and forums, like the ISID Congress, which provides a unique setting to bring together infectious disease researchers and governments. Through global cooperation, those charged with protecting citizens’ health today will also ensure that the lessons we learn this year will better prepare us for the challenges of future seasons.
How to keep your family safe this winter
While the monitoring and control measures by governments and regulators are critical, tackling the spread of infectious diseases is a societal effort. By staying vigilant and proactive, ordinary families can play a crucial role in protecting their communities. Here are four simple ways to do your part:
- Know the serious symptoms: Many of the common seasonal infections like RSV, COVID-19, and flu share the same early symptoms. Recognizing red flags like fever above 102°F, sharp chest pain, or sandpaper-like rashes could save lives — especially in vulnerable groups.
- Avoid self-diagnosis: Online resources shouldn’t replace a real doctor, especially for children or the elderly, where complications are more likely.
- Stay home when sick: For key workers who can’t stay home, practice good hygiene — frequent handwashing, wearing a mask, and maintaining distance from others.
- Be prepared: Stock up on fever reducers, cough medicine, and hydration solutions to manage symptoms early at home and avoid emergency care.
