Is COVID-19 really to blame for the new wave of respiratory viral infections?

Professor Sheena Cruickshank

Over the past month or two, many northern hemisphere countries including the US and the UK have seen a large wave of respiratory viral infections.

These include RSV, flu and COVID in all ages, as well as bacterial infections such as strep A in children.

As a result, the UK has seen a huge surge in hospital admissions during winter, putting the health service under further stress.

This had led some to question whether COVID damages our immune systems.