Why are children catching so many illnesses like flu, RSV and strep A this winter?

Many countries in the northern hemisphere are seeing surges of childhood respiratory infections like influenza and RSV. While this is partly because child infections fell during covid-19 restrictions, that isn’t the whole story

By Michael Marshall

After two long winters of covid-19, now the northern hemisphere is enduring a difficult season of multiple infectious illnesses. Other respiratory infections, like influenza and those caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), are running rampant, particularly in children – leading to waves of hospitalisations and a number of deaths. While it is normal for respiratory infections to spike in the coldest months, the timing of the waves and the number of hospitalisations both …