flu

While the trends are encouraging, health experts say we may not be out of the woods yet.

One week in December saw 514 patients test positive for flu compared to 43 the same week in 2021. Dr. Jeffrey Kahn, chief of infectious diseases, told KERA’s Sam Baker, the increase stems in part from a return to pre-pandemic behavior.

According to Dr. Peter Hotez of Baylor College of Medicine, there are seven respiratory viruses infecting people in large numbers this season.

COVID-19 cases have been steadily increasing since Thanksgiving, with more than 18,000 new cases this past week. On top of that, doctors are dealing with an influx of RSV and flu patients.

An expert says relaxed masking and fewer COVID-era precautions are likely behind the rise.

“I think we are just in the beginning of, unfortunately, this crisis … I think things are going to get, unfortunately, a little worse,” says San Antonio-based Dr. Mehmood Khan.

Children’s hospitals around the country are grappling with an early peak of respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV.

The CDC late last month reported Texas and New York have seen the high number of flu cases this season, so far. KERA’s Sam Baker talked about this with Dr. Donna Casey, an internist with Texas Health Dallas.

State and federal agencies have confirmed Texas’ first case of a “highly pathogenic” avian influenza, but commercial egg and poultry operations have so far avoided outbreaks and widespread losses seen in other regions.

Justice Thomas' condition is improving and he will likely be released within two days, the court said. He'll stay involved in the consideration of any cases the court hears this week.

The COVID masking, social distancing and hand-washing we did last year helped to keep the 2020 flu season quiet. While the CDC says flu activity this year has been low so far, cases still total more than seen last year.

The Texas Medical Association is urging people to get flu shots due to concerns flu season could be worse this year with fewer people masking and crowds gathering again.