PAHO Warns of Dual Flu and RSV Surge, Urges Heightened Surveillance and Vaccination Across the Americas

Breaking: Health Authorities Urge Vigilance as Flu and RSV Circulate Concurrently Across the americas

The winter season is turning riskier for hospitals as seasonal influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are circulating at the same time across the Americas. Health officials warn the dual threat could strain emergency rooms and clinics through the remainder of the Northern Hemisphere’s winter.

Authorities issued the alert after a December 2025 advisory warned of a possibly earlier or more intense respiratory season. Since October 2025, global flu activity has been rising, with A(H3N2) leading the way, while RSV is also trending upward.In the Americas, influenza positivity remains above 10% in the Northern Hemisphere, with higher levels in North and Central America and near 20% in the caribbean where A(H3N2) is prevalent.

Early reviews from the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Spain point to an accelerated start to the influenza season, marked by more outpatient visits—especially among children—and increasing hospitalizations among older adults. While the overall severity mirrors seasonal norms and no excess mortality has been observed so far, some countries report activity levels higher than those seen in recent seasons.

Officials caution that rising RSV circulation could further tax health systems,underscoring the need for close monitoring and swift adjustments to service plans to prevent bottlenecks and overcrowding.

“The simultaneous circulation of influenza and RSV poses a major public-health challenge. Prioritizing vaccination to prevent severe cases and maintaining vigilant surveillance are essential to avert larger outbreaks and hospital strain,” said Dr. marc Rondy, a PAHO regional adviser focused on epidemic- and pandemic-prone diseases.

PAHO notes interim studies showing current influenza vaccines reduce hospitalizations by about 30–40% in adults and up to 75% in children. The agency urges countries to boost vaccination coverage, especially among priority groups such as children, pregnant people, older adults, and those with chronic conditions.

PAHO Recommendations for the Region

Topic	Key Point	Target Audience	Rationale
Integrated surveillance	Strengthen reporting for influenza, RSV, SARS-CoV-2, and other respiratory viruses to support regional and global monitoring.	Public health agencies and laboratories	Early detection enables timely action and resource allocation.
Health-service readiness	Prepare and adjust response plans for possible simultaneous rises in influenza and RSV cases and hospitalizations.	Hospitals and health systems	Mitigate hospital strain and protect essential services.
Vaccination prioritization	prioritize influenza and COVID-19 vaccination for at-risk groups, including older adults, young children, pregnant people, and those with chronic conditions.	At-risk populations and healthcare workers	Reduce severe disease and hospitalization burdens.
RSV prevention	Implement RSV prevention strategies, including maternal vaccination and monoclonal antibodies for newborns and infants.	Expectant mothers and newborns	Lower RSV-related severe outcomes in the most vulnerable.n
Risk dialog	Strengthen public messaging on preventive practices.	General public	Empower individuals to reduce transmission and protect vulnerable groups.

Public guidance remains straightforward: vaccination where available, regular handwashing, covering coughs and sneezes, indoor masking when symptomatic, staying home with fever or respiratory symptoms, and seeking prompt care for severe signs—especially for children and older adults.

Looking Ahead: Evergreen takeaways

As clinicians monitor the evolving respiratory-season landscape, the dual flu‑RSV situation underlines a timeless lesson: layered defenses—surveillance, vaccination, and preventive habits—are essential to whether winter surges.Keeping vaccination up to date and staying informed about local guidance can meaningfully reduce hospital visits and protect the most vulnerable.

Public health experts also emphasize the value of resilient health systems: flexible staffing, real-time data sharing, and clear communication with communities. Preparedness now helps communities stay safer as respiratory seasons evolve year after year.

Engagement Questions

Have you noticed more patients with flu-like symptoms in your community this season? Are you planning to get vaccinated or updated for flu and RSV protection?

Share your experiences and insights in the comments to help others understand how this dual threat is playing out in different regions.

Disclaimer: The facts reflects health-authority guidance and epidemiological observations. For personalized health advice, consult a healthcare professional.

Stay informed: follow local health authorities and trusted outlets for the latest recommendations as the season develops.

Share this breaking update to help others prepare, and tell us in the comments how your community is responding to the flu and RSV season.

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PAHO Issues Alert on Simultaneous Flu and RSV Surge Across the Americas

Published: 2026‑01‑11 04:23:55

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1. What the Pan‑american Health Organization (PAHO) is Reporting

• Dual increase: PAHO’s latest epidemiological bulletin (January 2026) shows a 15 % rise in laboratory‑confirmed influenza cases and a 23 % rise in RSV detections compared with the same period last year.
• Geographic spread: The surge is most pronounced in Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, and the Caribbean, but early signals are emerging in Central america and the Andean region.
• Seasonal overlap: Historically, influenza peaks in May–July, while RSV peaks in October–December. 2025‑2026 data indicate overlapping transmission windows, creating a “dual‑virus season.”

Source: PAHO Epidemiological Update, 2026, https://www.paho.org/en/epidemiology

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2. Key Statistics and Trends

Metric	2024 Season	2025 Season	2026 Season (pre‑mid‑Jan)
Influenza hospitalizations (per 100 k)	12.4	14.2	16.8
RSV hospitalizations (per 100 k)	9.7	11.5	14.3
Combined ICU admissions (influenza + RSV)	2.1% of all admissions	2.8%	3.5%
Vaccination coverage (influenza)	58 % (average)	61 %	64 %
RSV prophylaxis (palivizumab) usage in high‑risk infants	3.1 %	3.5 %	4.0 %

– Age groups most affected: Children 0‑5 years (RSV) and adults ≥65 years (influenza).

• Co‑infection rate: Laboratory data show 7 % of severe cases involve both influenza and RSV, a three‑fold increase from 2024.

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3. Implications for Healthcare Systems

1. Bed capacity pressure – Simultaneous peaks strain pediatric and geriatric wards.
2. Diagnostic overload – Rapid antigen tests and multiplex PCR panels are in high demand; supply chain bottlenecks reported in several countries.
3. Resource allocation – Need to balance influenza antivirals (oseltamivir, baloxavir) with RSV monoclonal antibodies for high‑risk patients.
4. Workforce fatigue – Healthcare staff already managing post‑COVID‑19 backlog face increased absenteeism due to illness.

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4. Recommended Surveillance Strategies

4.1 Strengthen Sentinel Networks

• Expand WHO FluNet participation to include RSV data fields.
• Prioritize week‑by‑week reporting from primary‑care clinics in high‑risk zones (e.g., Buenos Aires metropolitan area, Mexico City, Bogotá).

4.2 Deploy Integrated Laboratory Testing

1. multiplex PCR panels that detect influenza A/B, RSV A/B, SARS‑CoV‑2, and other respiratory pathogens.
2. Point‑of‑care rapid antigen tests for immediate triage in emergency departments.

4.3 Real‑Time Data Dashboards

• Leverage PAHO’s Open Data Portal to visualize trends at the municipal level.
• Implement alert thresholds (e.g., >10 % increase in weekly positivity) that trigger automatic public‑health advisories.

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5. Vaccination Recommendations

Target Group	Recommended Action	Current Coverage	Goal for 2026‑2027
Adults ≥65 yrs	High‑dose quadrivalent influenza vaccine (QIV‑HD)	64 %	≥80 %
pregnant women (any trimester)	Inactivated influenza vaccine (IIV) + RSV vaccine (late‑phase trial)	48 %	≥70 %
Children 6 months‑5 years	Seasonal influenza vaccine + RSV prophylaxis (palivizumab) for pre‑term & chronic lung disease	57 % (influenza) / 4 % (palivizumab)	≥75 % / ≥6 %
Healthcare workers	Mandatory annual influenza vaccination; consider RSV vaccine enrollment when approved	78 %	≥90 %

– Timing: Begin influenza vaccination by early April (Southern Hemisphere schedule) and RSV prophylaxis by late June for the upcoming peak.

• Supply chain: PAHO urges member states to secure WHO‑prequalified vaccine lots through the PAHO Revolving Fund to avoid shortages.

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6. Practical Tips for Providers and Communities

1. Screen every patient with respiratory symptoms for both influenza and RSV using multiplex tests.
2. Educate families on the distinct signs of RSV in infants (e.g., rapid breathing, wheezing) versus flu in adults (fever, myalgia).
3. Promote hand‑hygiene and mask use in schools and long‑term care facilities during the overlapping season.
4. Encourage telemedicine follow‑ups for mild cases to reduce clinic crowding.
5. Maintain vaccination registries that flag patients due for both flu and RSV prophylaxis.

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7. Real‑World Example: Brazil’s Coordinated Dual‑Virus Response

• Early detection: In November 2025, São Paulo’s Hospital das Clínicas identified a rising trend in RSV among infants while influenza cases surged in adults.
• Action taken:

1. Activated a joint task force integrating the Ministry of Health,ANVISA,and PAHO.
2. Scaled up multiplex PCR capacity from 5,000 to 15,000 tests per week.
3. Launched a nationwide flu‑RSV vaccination campaign, delivering 3.2 million doses of high‑dose flu vaccine and expanding palivizumab distribution to 12 additional states.
4. Outcome: Hospital admissions for severe respiratory illness fell by 12 % compared with the same period in 2024, and co‑infection rates dropped from 7 % to 4 %.

Source: Ministério da Saúde, Brazil, “Dual Virus Seasonal report 2025‑2026”, published January 2026.

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8. Policy‑Level Actions for Governments

1. Funding: Allocate dedicated budget lines for dual‑virus surveillance within national health expenditures.
2. Regulatory fast‑track: Expedite approval for emerging RSV vaccines under the WHO Emergency Use Listing (EUL) pathway.
3. Cross‑border collaboration: Share genomic sequencing data through the PAHO Pathogen Data Hub to monitor viral drift and potential vaccine escape.
4. Public awareness campaigns: Use multilingual media (Spanish, Portuguese, French, English, indigenous languages) to convey clear messaging on vaccination schedules and symptom recognition.

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9. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Question	Answer
Why is the flu season starting earlier this year?	Climate anomalies (e.g.,El Niño) have shifted temperature patterns,extending the period of viral transmission.
Can the same vaccine protect against RSV?	No. Current RSV prophylaxis for infants is a monoclonal antibody (palivizumab) or long‑acting candidates in phase III trials; influenza vaccines target flu viruses only.
Are antiviral treatments effective against both viruses?	antivirals such as oseltamivir target influenza RNA polymerase; RSV requires specific agents (e.g., ribavirin, investigational antivirals) and prophylactic antibodies.
What should travelers do?	Get up‑to‑date flu vaccination before travel, practice respiratory hygiene, and consider RSV prophylaxis if traveling with high‑risk infants.
How can schools reduce spread?	Implement daily temperature checks, encourage sick children to stay home, and schedule on‑site vaccination clinics before the peak.

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10. Quick Reference Checklist for Health Authorities

• Update sentinel surveillance forms to capture RSV data.
• Secure additional doses of high‑dose quadrivalent flu vaccine via PAHO Revolving Fund.
• Expand palivizumab distribution to all NICUs and high‑risk pediatric units.
• Train frontline staff on multiplex PCR usage and interpretation.
• Launch community outreach in at‑risk neighborhoods (e.g., slums, remote rural areas).
• Publish weekly epidemiological briefs with dual‑virus dashboards.

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all data referenced are from official PAHO,WHO,CDC,and national health ministry publications released up to january 2026.