LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Wintertime is bringing with it predictions of medical apocalypse from the government and physicians nationwide and warning us of impending doom from the lurking viruses surrounding us. Currently, Michigan physicians and the Michigan Dept. of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) are focused on COVID-19, RSV, flu and colds.

Nationally, there are even more things to worry about according to physician Dr. Mark Segal, a frequent medical contributor on Fox News. In a recent appearance on the network, he warned about a slew of public health problems at our open borders including resistant tuberculosis, scabies, and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. That’s a tick-borne disease which he said was most likely being spread by stray dogs near the border who are carrying infected ticks. The CDC recently issued a health alert concerning an outbreak of the bacterial disease in Southern California after three people died.

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It’s unknown how many of the health concerns at the border will make their way to the rest of the country as illegal immigration continues mostly unchecked. Then there’s the virus in China that is affecting mostly children that we have to keep an eye on with the UK’s Daily Star reporting that the “mystery pneumonia taking over the country has stopped responding to ALL antibiotics.”

Michigan’s main concern is viral infections.

Closer to home in Michigan, concerns have turned to viral infections. Last week, two Corewell Health pediatricians warned Michiganders that patients might have to expect busier waiting rooms and much longer wait times for doctors’ appointments soon because of the rise of respiratory virus cases. They also urge residents in the state to take the same precautions as they did during the pandemic.

Dr. Andrea Hadley, chief of the pediatric acute care division at Corewell Health Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital in Grand Rapids, said, “We always want to go back to basics: washing hands, staying home when you’re sick, not going to crowded family gatherings, especially over the holidays if there’s a vulnerable person or there’s somebody actively ill with symptoms.”

Dr. Hadley added that with crowded hospitals, patients might have to be cared for in non-traditional areas or be put in a room with two patients. The CDC is also warning about rationed care as a result of the convergence of COVID-19 and RSV.

Recommendations, in addition to the above precautions, include getting vaccinated against COVID-19, RSV and influenza which MDHHS says can be given all at the same time (if the patient is eligible).

Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, chief medical executive for MDARD, says, “Vaccines against respiratory illnesses are the best way to protect yourself and your families against the anticipated surge of these illnesses over winter months. It is not too late to get vaccinated this season — please get your flu, COVID-19 and RSV vaccines (if eligible) today to prevent yourself from the potentially severe consequences of influenza and other respiratory illnesses this holiday season and to help prevent further burden on our health care system.”

Americans are ignoring advice about COVID-19.

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However, at least as COVID-19 goes, Americans are not heeding the advice with only 7% of adults and 2% of children in the country getting the newest vaccine as of October 14th according to a survey presented last week to scientific advisers to the CDC. RSV vaccines are currently only available for infants younger than eight-months-old and for adults over 60 and pregnant women.

Although COVID-19 numbers (infections) are trending up in Michigan, deaths are going down. As of December 12th, data release from the state showed confirmed COVID-19 cases rising 5% to 6,133. They also reported only 17 additional Covid deaths, down from 22 the week before. Hospitalizations increased 2% with Bridge Michigan noting that hospitalizations hit 991 on December 6th, the highest since early January. A large portion of the reported cases continue to come out of south east lower Michigan, including Wayne, Oakland, Macomb and Detroit City.

It should be noted, however, that patients aren’t always hospitalized because of COVID-19. They could be in the hospital for something else and test positive.

The current COVID-19 variant making the rounds in Michigan and the rest of the country are EG.5 and HV.1, which are found in nearly half of all COVID-19 cases in the country. As the variants mutate, scientists are keeping an eye on JN.1, the fastest-growing Covid variant in the country which accounts for more than one-fifth of all cases or between 15 to 29% of the COVID-19 infections. The latest COVID-19 vaccines are expected to work against this new variant.

Michigan is rated “minimal” when it comes to spreading the flu.

Michigan is reported as being at “minimal spread” for the flu with southern states experiencing a “high” or “very high spread” that could come up north with holiday travels.

Cold, flu, RSV and COVID-19 can all exhibit the same type of symptoms. Although there are specific treatments for COVID-19 and flu, Stanulis said most respiratory viruses are treated only with time and measures to relieve symptoms, like drinking hot tea and honey and avoiding cold air. She added that antibiotics don’t work against viruses that cause the common cold and flu or COVID-19.

Time is often the answer to getting over a winter virus. Stanulis said, “When I tell people (it takes) a tincture of time, nobody likes to hear that.” She added that it’s good to take the precautions to avoid getting sick in the first place.