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This is Science Friday.

I'm Flora Lichten.

Today in the podcast, we're digging into some viral trends.

You know, this winter, we had a very small COVID wave. There's this

hypothesis that because we're having such a big flu season, these flu cases are pushing COVID aside.

It has felt like a brutal season for sickness. More people have gotten hit with flu symptoms this year than in decades. Hospitalization rates are the highest they've been in 15 years. And on top of that, neurovirus is retching new highs. There's been a surge in walking pneumonia cases. Of course, there's RSV and COVID and now concerns about bird flu.

It's a lot to worry about. So is this year, in fact, very virusy? And if so, why?

Joining me now to explain are my guests. Dr. Caitlin Jedalina, epidemiologist and author of the

newsletter, your local epidemiologist. She's based in

San Diego, California. And Dr. Erica Chenoy, chief of infection control at Mass General Brigham,

based in Boston, Massachusetts. Okay, Caitlin, is it me or is it actually an unusually bad year for viruses?

No, it is not you. There's a lot of sick people out

there. Like you mentioned, influenza-like illnesses, which is about, you know, fever, cough,

runny nose, haven't reached these heights since the 1990s. And the main culprit is flu.

Flu usually gives us a roller coaster because of changing weather and different strains.

But as of now, flu hospitalization rates are higher so far this season than any time during the past 15 years.

And interestingly, this is also the first winter that flu deaths past COVID deaths.

So it's definitely palpable out there and a lot of people are feeling it.

Okay.

Why is it such a bad year for the flu?

You know, a nasty flu season is usually due to a few different factors.

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