This Is the CDC Director's "Biggest Fear" With COVID - MSN Money

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Coronavirus is casting a long shadow as we brace for a second wave of the virus that's predicted to hit just in time for flu season. In a recorded interview for JAMA Network, CDC director Robert R. Redfield, MD shared his own "biggest fear," about COVID and flu: that together, they could completely overwhelm our nation's hospitals this winter.

Robert R. Redfield wearing glasses and smiling at the camera

The CDC estimates that last year's flu season resulted in tens of millions of flu cases and tens of thousands of deaths. Numbers like these could greatly complicate the fight against COVID in the months ahead. "[The] biggest fear I have of course with COVID and flu at the same time is that our hospital capacity could get strained," said Redfield.

He pointed to the devastation in New York City in March and April as an example of just how bad things could become. "We had really high mortality rates if you go back and look at New York. It's not that the practice of medicine was not as good in New York—it was probably better than most parts of the country—but when the health system gets overwhelmed, we find that with COVID, this is where the mortalities seem to be the greatest," he explained.

That's why Redfield stressed the importance of all Americans getting a flu shot to help mitigate this dual threat. "My goal is to ask the American public to do their part," said Redfield, later adding, "This is the time. Don't leave this enormous advancement in medicine on the shelf."

But Redfield isn't the only one imploring the public to do their part. Benjamin Singer, MD, a Northwestern Medicine pulmonologist and critical care specialist who treats COVID-19 patients, echoed Redfield's sentiments and shared his best tips for avoiding disaster this winter. On top of urging everyone to get the flu vaccine, he noted that COVID mitigation strategies like social distancing and hand hygiene should help combat both COVID and flu—all the more reason to step up our vigilance.

Singer also stressed that the threat is very real, and has already affected our ability to fight coronavirus. "Co-infection with another respiratory pathogen, including the flu, occurred in more than 20 percent of COVID-19-positive patients who presented with a respiratory viral syndrome early in the pandemic," Singer warned. The number of co-infections is likely to soar as people spend more time indoors during colder months.

So, even if you don't regularly get flu shots, this is a good year to start. Call your doctor or local pharmacy to find out how you can get yours—not only for yourself, but for the hospitals that don't need any extra patients right now. And for more on this double threat, Here's How COVID's Death Toll Compares to the Flu.

Gallery: COVID Is Mutating Again. Here's What You Need to Know About the New Strain (Best Life)

COVID Is Mutating Again. Here's What You Need to Know About the New Strain

All viruses mutate, but it's understandable if that doesn't exactly put you at ease when it comes to coronavirus. After all, the fact that COVID is mutating brings about a whole new wave of uncertainty about how it will behave—and whether it will become harder for us to beat.

So far, scientists have counted six main strains of Sars-CoV-2, the virus that causes coronavirus, and each of them presents with different traits and trajectories. Known as the "D614G strain" or more commonly as the "G strain," the newest mutation of Sars-CoV-2 is found most commonly right here in North America, though it's gradually becoming the dominant strain across the world. The good news? Considering how rapidly and dramatically viruses can mutate, COVID's mutation has been relatively slow and steady. Read on to find out all you need to know about the newest strain, and how it will affect our fight against it. And for more on staying safe from coronavirus, check out Dr. Fauci's Top 10 Tips to Keep You Safe from COVID-19.

1. It's way more contagious than the first strain.

Compared to the original strain, the newest strain is more easily transmissible, researchers say. One study, published in the journal Cell, concluded that the new G strain is a whopping 10 times more contagious—which may explain why it was able to become the dominant strain so quickly. A change in the virus's spike protein makes it easier to spread, and researchers have observed that patients with the G variant also seem to have higher levels of the virus in their bodies, making them even more likely to pass it on to others.

2. It's less deadly than the first strain.

Now for the good news. Though the G strain appears to spread more easily, it's considered less deadly than previous strains. Paul Tambyah, senior consultant at the National University of Singapore and president-elect of the International Society of Infectious Diseases recently told Reuters that the spread of the new strain coincides with lower death rates in those areas, suggesting that it yields a lower rate of mortality. And for more like this, find out why 80 Percent of COVID Patients Have This Deadly Complication.

3. It may produce a better immune response.

Beyond having lower death rates, one study published in The Lancet medical journal found that the G strain's cases are less severe on average. Reuters reports that patients with this strain are less likely to require intensive care or experience drops in blood oxygen. They point out that this is because the G strain may elicit a more robust immune response than other strains.

4. Mutations shouldn't get in the way of a vaccine.

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This Is the CDC Director's "Biggest Fear" With COVID - MSN Money
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