THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION SAYS THAT NATIONWIDE, THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE GOING TO DOCTORS WITH THINGS LIKE THE FLU, RSV, AND COVID, IS SURGING.

WHAT BETTER TIME TO CHECK IN WITH AN EPIDEMIOLOGIST.

IS WHAT WE ARE SEEING NOW THE STANDARD RESPIRATORY VIRUS SEASON OR IS THERE SOMETHING UNUSUAL GOING ON?

>> LIKE YOU SAID, IT IS NO DOUBT UGLY OUT THERE.

THERE ARE A LOT OF SICK PEOPLE WITH COUGHS, FEVER, SORE THROAT.

ESPECIALLY IN THE SOUTH AND HI WEST.

THESE LEVELS ARE NOT UNUSUAL.

WE HAVE SEEN THE SAME LEVEL OF SICKNESS BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.

WHAT IS UNUSUAL IS THAT COVID IS NOT NECESSARILY DOMINATING.

THE MAIN CULPRIT RIGHT NOW IS FLU.

IT ACCOUNTS FOR MANY MORE HOSPITALIZATIONS.

THIS IS DEFINITELY A SHIFT FROM THE PAST FOUR YEARS.

ANCHOR: WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT BOOSTER SHOTS AND FLU SHOTS AND WHAT EFFECT THAT IS HAVING?

>> UNFORTUNATELY VACCINATION RATES ARE SUB OPTIMAL.

ONLY ONE IN FOUR U.S.

ADULTS HAS THE COVID VACCINE.

LESSON 50 CENT -- 50% OF AMERICANS HAS THE FLU VACCINE.

THIS IS FAR LOWER THAN OUR GOAL OF 70%.

FEWER AND FEWER CHILDREN ARE GETTING THESE VACCINES EVERY YEAR.

WITH A LOWER VACCINATION RATES, THAT MEANS MORE STRAINED HOSPITAL SYSTEMS AND MORE PEDIATRIC DEATH.

LAST YEAR WAS ONE OF THE WORST FOR FLU DEATHS AMONG KIDS.

MORE VACCINATIONS WOULD CERTAINLY HELP.

ANCHOR: ONE OTHER INGREDIENT OF THIS IS THE NOROVIRUS.

IS THAT IS WHAT COMMONLY CALLED US STOMACH FLU?

>> THINK NAUSEA, DIARRHEA, THROWING UP.

IT IS NOT FUN.

IT IS UNUSUALLY HIGH RIGHT NOW.

WE DON'T KNOW WHY THIS IS THE CASE.

TYPICALLY THIS MEANS THE VIRUS HAS MUTATED.

TO INFECT MORE PEOPLE.

IT IS SPREAD THROUGH SURFACES AND IT IS INCREDIBLY CONTAGIOUS.

IT IS REALLY HARD TO KILL.

HAND SANITIZER DOES NOT WORK AGAINST IT.

USING BLEACH WILL DO THE TRICK.

ANCHOR: THERE ARE A COUPLE OF OTHER VIRUSES IN THE HEADLINES.

WHAT IS ON THE RISE IN CHINA.

THAT HAS RAISED UNHAPPY COMPARISONS WITH COVID.

AND THE BIRD FLU.

JUST LAST WEEK WE HAVE THE FIRST BIRD FLU DEATH.

HOW CONCERNED SHOULD PEOPLE BE ABOUT THOSE?

>> THE NEW VIRUS HAS MADE HEADLINES IN CHINA AND INDIA.

IT HAS BEEN AROUND FOR A WHILE.

IT CAUSES LESS SEVERE DISEASE THAN FLU OR COVID.

THANK THE COMMON COLD.

THIS FIRE SHOULD TAKE UP VERY LITTLE HEADSPACE FOR THE AVERAGE AMERICAN.

BIRD FLU, WE ARE NOT SEEING HUMAN TO HUMAN TRANSMISSION.

THE HIGHEST RISK IS FOR AGRICULTURE WORKERS WORKING FOR POULTRY OR DAIRY FARMS.

AS WELL AS AMERICANS WHO DRINK RAW MILK BECAUSE THEIR HIGH LEVELS OF BLURRED -- BIRD FLU VIRUS AND THOSE.

ANCHOR: IS THE GOVERNMENT DOING ENOUGH?

>> THEY CERTAINLY COULD BE DOING A LOT MORE.

WE ARE STILL FLYING BLIND.

WE DON'T KNOW HOW MANY INFECTIONS THERE ARE OUT THERE.

BECAUSE IT IS RUNNING REACTED AMONG ANIMALS, IT IS SPILLING OVER TO HUMANS.

IT HAS THE ABILITY TO MUTATE.

THE TIME TO PREVENT A PANDEMIC IS NOW.

THERE IS CERTAINLY MORE GOVERNMENT COULD BE DOING.

ANCHOR: ALWAYS VERY HELPFUL TO TALK TO YOU.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

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