Why is everyone so sick?

Matthias Wiezorek, Grade 11

Allegheny County has had a huge increase in flu cases this season. According to the Allegheny County website, total flu cases have gone up from 17 by October 31, 2020, to 155 by November 6, 2021, to 2,079 cases so far as of November 5, 2022. This spike isn’t the worst we’re going to see, either. The peak of cases in flu season is typically between December and March in the United States. If we’ve already had so many cases, there’s no question we’ll have even more down the line.

One likely cause of this spike is the loosening of strict COVID-19 regulations. Children are now in schools without a mask mandate, and sanitation efforts have gone way down. Surfaces aren’t cleaned as diligently, and handwashing has become much more infrequent. This has given an opportunity for plenty of diseases to go around with the decreased level of protection.

Besides the flu, one of these diseases is the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). RSV has been spread in high numbers this October. Though the symptoms of RSV are much milder than the flu in teens and adults than in young children it still causes cold-like symptoms. RSV is very contagious. It is spread through coughs and sneezes, as well as contact with the droplets left behind on a surface that was coughed or sneezed on. Alongside the decreased urgency of keeping everything clean, RSV is making its way around with ease.

The primary issue for children in school is exposure. Children are around other children in large numbers constantly. Whether it be for school, team sports, after-school activities, or transportation, kids are exposed all the time. This high risk of infection is doubly bad since missing school can be a severe setback. Missed work piles up quickly, and if they’re stuck at home with the flu, they won’t be feeling well enough to stay caught up. This process doesn’t just disrupt the kids stuck at home, either. Classes are either slowed down to help the kids falling behind, or they move as normal and leave them in the dust, meaning someone’s learning takes a hit no matter what.

Out of school activities are stuck with a dilemma as well. If kids go to their regular after-school activities, they’re at a greater risk of catching the flu. Whether they attend, catch the flu, and stay home, or just choose to stay home to avoid getting sick, attendance is going down and these activities’ schedules are being disrupted.

“I missed an entire week of school,” says 11th grader Christian Cole. “I missed a ton of important classwork and some hockey games. A bunch of my hockey games got canceled, too, since everyone on my team got the flu.” His teammate Logan Keady says, ” I either go to school and feel miserable or stay home and miss schoolwork.”

Unfortunately, flu and RSV cases are projected to get worse, but since it’s going around now, many people will catch it now, have it pass, and be less likely to get it later. People will also be caught up on their vaccines if they haven’t had them already. All we can do is practice proper sanitation and hope for the best.