Doctors Outline Expected Respiratory Virus Activity and Prevention Measures for Upcoming Fall and Winter
Medical experts say flu season will likely begin in September or October and run through March, with other viruses such as RSV, COVID-19 and common colds also circulating, and they stress vaccination and basic hygiene as key defenses.
Doctors expect the annual flu season to start in September or October and continue until March or April, with a typical peak in December and January, according to Dr. S. Wesley Long, medical director of diagnostic microbiology at Houston Methodist Hospital. He noted that flu A cases are already rising nationally and that the southern-hemisphere flu season, which was average this year, often foreshadows the severity of the U.S. season.
Dr. Morgan Katz, an associate professor of medicine at Johns Hopkins, said the current flu season appears lighter and later than the previous year, but emphasized that vaccination remains essential to reduce severe outcomes. She added that indoor gatherings and reduced ventilation in colder months facilitate the spread of respiratory viruses, including COVID-19, which tends to increase during winter despite not being strictly seasonal.
Dr. David Nguyen of Rush University Medical Center highlighted that RSV activity is currently low but typically rises from October through winter, peaking in January, and that vaccines are available for high-risk groups. He also noted that common colds, caused by rhinoviruses and enteroviruses, have no specific treatments, making preventive measures such as masking, hand hygiene and testing for flu or COVID-19 important.
All three physicians recommended vaccination against flu, COVID-19 and RSV for eligible individuals, especially older adults, pregnant people and infants. They also advised avoiding crowded indoor spaces, wearing masks when appropriate and maintaining social distancing to reduce the risk of infection during the season.