Monday, March 20, 2023

If it's not COVID-19 or the flu, maybe it's this

Plus more health news |

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Flu season's almost over, but there are other viruses on the rise
By Jamie Ducharme
Health Correspondent

My partner spent most of last week sick on the couch, tired and coughing. It seemed like a textbook case of COVID-19—but when he got tested, his results came back negative for both COVID-19 and the flu.

Lots of people seem to be in similar situations right now. Plenty of respiratory viruses are going around, even as flu season dies down and COVID-19 diagnoses decline. Many of these viruses cause cold-like symptoms, so it’s hard to say what any single person has. But human metapneumovirus, which causes symptoms including cough, congestion, and fever, is currently causing a particularly high percentage of positive test results, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data show.

If you’re sick with a mystery virus, experts I interviewed said not to worry too much about figuring out what it is. For most routine respiratory viruses, their advice is the same: stay home, rest, take over-the-counter medications if necessary, and call your doctor if you have severe symptoms including a high fever or difficulty breathing.

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ONE LAST READ
Improving the climate—and personal health
The U.N. climate report released today comes with a stark warning: The world must take immediate, ambitious action in the next 10 years to avoid devastating climate impacts. But scientists also point out a key opportunity: The very actions needed to avert climate disaster also result in significant health benefits. Making neighborhoods more walkable and bike-friendly, for instance, will lead to more active lifestyles, cleaning up air and water would reduce disease burden, and relying less on meat for food would improve diet.
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Today's newsletter was written by Jamie Ducharme and Kyla Mandel, and edited by Angela Haupt.

 
 
 
 
 
 

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