Health officials have started to warn the public about the dangers posed by an imminent “tridemic,” three different endemic and pandemic viruses that are becoming prevalent around the same time. The tridemic, or “tripledemic”, refers to the risk of being exposed to a triple cocktail of pathogens, mainly influenza (flu), SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that leads to the COVID-19 disease), and RSV (respiratory syncytial virus – common colds, etc). Health organizations reported that the flu is now widespread in the U.S., Russia, and Austria.
And that most Australian are currently unaware that Covid:
Because airborne viruses can be so easily transmitted between people, it’s important to have a strategy to mitigate your risk.
What are the dangers?
Despite widely publicized dangers associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, risks from other viruses can be poorly understood even though they can be life-threatening. Flu incidents were significantly reduced as a secondary result of COVID precautions and mitigation precautions during both the 2020 to 2021 and 2021 to 2022 flu seasons.
The flu can be deadly.
Though flu is commonly circulated in winter months and familiar to the public, it is important to remember that the flu can be deadly. For example, the United States experienced 390,000 flu-related hospitalizations and 25,000 flu-related deaths. During that same year, 1,076 Australians died from influenza. Public officials emphasize that both COVID-19 and flu vaccination provide the best protection from illness.
The third virus within the tridemic, RSV, poses a more targeted risk than flu and SARS-CoV-2, and should also be of a concern for the public. RSV infection can result in respiratory illness and death, primarily impacting infants, people over the age of 65, or children with lung or heart disease. Annually, there are an estimated 100,000 RSV deaths globally.
There are preventative medicines for RSV and as of December 2022 a potential vaccine is being developed and reviewed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for older adults and children.
Also, many COVID-19 vaccine recipients have waning immunization if they haven’t kept up on booster shots. When flu and RSV risks are combined with reduced COVID-19 immunization, there is an amplified need to be attentive to prevention strategies.
What can we do to help control the spread of viruses?
Several strategies have been used and proven effective in reducing COVID-19 transmission. When recommended by public health officials, there are several steps that have demonstrated their effectiveness:
Public health organizations like the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Public Health Ontario, and the government of New Zealand recommend using HEPA air purifiers to help control exposure to SARS-CoV-2.
How IQAir’s HyperHEPA .003 micron technology helps fight viruses
IQAir’s HyperHEPA technology is proven to trap ultrafine particulate matter as small as 0.003 microns in diameter, the smallest particles that exist. Virus particles are among the smallest particles on earth, ranging from 0.005 to 0.3 microns in diameter. They can be transmitted between people when respiratory droplets are expelled as infected people cough, sneeze, or just breathe. Viruses like SARS CoV-2 can then be spread through contact, short range transmission, or become aerosolized and infect people through in long-range transmission.
When air remains unfiltered in a room for a long period of time, airborne concentrations of a virus can become high. IQAir filtration and engineered filtration pressure differentials can then be helpful in capturing aerosolized particles. IQAir’s HyperHEPA technology is proven to trap ultrafine particulate matter as small as 0.003 microns in diameter.
Summary
While the tridemic should be a cause for concern, effective mitigation strategies can make your gatherings and environments safer. And high-performance air purification can be effective in helping keep viruses out of homes, schools, and workplaces.
When partnered with effective, proven strategies for virus control, it is possible to reduce risk and enjoy the season.
ABOUT IQAIR
IQAir is a Swiss technology company that empowers individuals, organizations and governments to improve air quality through information and collaboration.
