As the flu season continues to rise, health officials are becoming increasingly concerned about the spread of COVID-19 and RSV. Countless emergency rooms across the country are preparing for a possible triple epidemic of illnesses, with cases continuing to rise in various regions.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), from October until last week, there were at least 780,000 flu illnesses and almost 500 deaths. Dr. Brownstein, a physician who specializes in infectious diseases, said that certain age groups and individuals with prior medical conditions are more susceptible to severe cases and even death from the three illnesses.

While flu hospitalizations have been lower than this time last year, trends in southern states mirror those seen in last year’s spikes. Health officials say they are closely monitoring the situation and taking steps to mitigate the spread of these illnesses as much as possible.