The Rise of Common Colds Post-Pandemic: What You Need to Know
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Chapter 1: The Return of Familiar Viruses
As we gradually return to socializing without masks, a wave of familiar, non-COVID-19 viruses is making its presence felt across the nation.
Experts emphasize the continued significance of wearing masks, particularly due to the more infectious Delta variant of COVID-19.
By Kelsie Sandoval
During the Fourth of July weekend, 23-year-old Ryley Oliver woke up with a sore and swollen throat, reminiscent of the symptoms she experienced when she tested positive for COVID-19 in August 2020.
“I felt a bit panicked, thinking, ‘Oh no, not again,’” said Oliver, who has been fully vaccinated since April 8. Concerned for her health and that of her three roommates, she sought testing for both COVID-19 and strep throat at an urgent care facility.
To her relief, the results were negative for both infections.
The physician’s assistant who attended to her noted that she is not alone in this experience: as people begin to mingle again, the common cold is re-emerging.
One silver lining of the pandemic was the near disappearance of other viruses; for instance, flu hospitalizations were significantly reduced. From October 1 to January 30, only 155 Americans were admitted for flu-related illnesses, a drastic decline from 8,633 during the same period the previous year.
However, as in-person interactions resume without the use of masks, there has been a noticeable uptick in the prevalence of several mild, familiar viruses across the country.
The Resurgence of Respiratory Viruses
Trevor Bedford, a computational biologist at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, has been monitoring respiratory viruses in Seattle. He notes, “We are beginning to see a resurgence of respiratory viruses (adenovirus, parainfluenza, seasonal coronavirus), but their levels remain quite low and are currently below the usual summer averages for Seattle.”
One Medical, a healthcare provider offering both virtual and in-person care, reported a 64% increase in patients expressing concerns about cold and flu symptoms via its “Treat Me Now” app in June compared to the prior three months.
Dr. Jennifer Shu, a pediatrician and co-author of "Heading Home With Your Newborn: From Birth to Reality," has observed a rise in respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) cases since March 2020, which typically peaks in winter. “It seems like everything has been delayed by four to five months,” Shu explained.
She also mentioned increasing cases of parainfluenza, rhinovirus, and adenovirus, attributing this surge to the lack of exposure during the pandemic, which prevented children from building immunity to these common cold viruses.
In North Carolina, recent reports indicate a rise in RSV and parainfluenza among children.
A COVID-19 Scare Turns Out to Be a Common Cold
For Oliver, discovering that she had a common cold rather than COVID-19 was a relief, particularly given the likelihood of breakthrough infections with the more transmissible Delta variant.
Almost a week later, she continues to experience cold symptoms like congestion, body aches, and fatigue, but she feels grateful it isn’t COVID-19, especially after the difficulties she faced while quarantining during her COVID-19 infection last year.
“Being a social person, I was living alone at the time, and spending ten consecutive days by myself was tougher than I had anticipated,” Oliver recalled.
If you have experiences related to the coronavirus pandemic that you would like to share, feel free to reach out at [email protected].