The Times Australia
The Times World News

.

We can expect more colds and flu as COVID restrictions lift. 5 germs to look out for

  • Written by Natasha Yates, Assistant Professor, General Practice, Bond University
We can expect more colds and flu as COVID restrictions lift. 5 germs to look out for

Australia is opening up, people are mixing and mingling, and schools are back. But there’s a downside. Sharing our lives with each other again also means sharing our germs.

When we look at trends of illnesses in cities coming out of lockdown internationally[1], one thing is clear. We can expect to see more colds and flu. But what’s actually causing these?

Here are five germs I expect we’ll see more of in the coming months.

Read more: Curious Kids: Why does my snot turn green when I have a cold?[2]

1. Influenza

Usually seasonal influenza kills 290,000 to 650,000 people[3] a year worldwide. But since COVID hit, it has practically vanished[4].

The most likely reason for such a dramatic drop is the reduction in international travel. Public health interventions designed to curb COVID (such as mask wearing, hand washing, physical distancing) have also likely contributed.

With global travel opening up again, influenza will likely travel too. So we anticipate seeing a lot more of it around[5].

Read more: Health Check: when is 'the flu' really a cold?[6]

2. Streptococcus pneumoniae

Pandemic response measures have also curbed some bacteria, such as Streptococcus pneumoniae.

A study[7] was conducted on data from 26 countries across six continents in the first half of 2020. It found S. pneumoniae infections decreased by 82% after eight weeks of restricted population movement, such as lockdown.

This bacteria causes pneumonia (which is how it got its name). It can also cause a range of other illnesses from ear infections and sinusitis to life-threatening infections of the bloodstream (sepsis), and central nervous system (meningitis).

Young children, older people and people with impaired immune systems are most at risk[8].

Young child in pain, clutching ear
This bacteria can cause everything from ear infections to meningitis. Shutterstock[9]

Thankfully, we have vaccines (known as pneumococcal vaccines) to help prevent the nastier diseases you can get from this bacteria.

These are already part of the Australian vaccination schedule[10]. So if you have been vaccinated according to routine recommendations, you should already be protected.

If you catch S. pneumoniae, it does respond to antibiotics. However, it’s resistant to at least one antibiotic in three out of every ten cases[11].

Prevention (with vaccines and hygiene) is definitely the better option. So as a community, we must carefully steward our use of antibiotics[12] to make sure they actually work when we really need them.

Read more: Why resistance is common in antibiotics, but rare in vaccines[13]

3. Neisseria meningitidis

This is another nasty bacteria. You may have already guessed from its name that it can cause meningococcal meningitis, a serious infection of the central nervous system.

The same international study[14] that found a reduction in S. pneumoniae during lockdowns also found rates of Neisseria meningitidis greatly reduced.

This is not surprising as N. meningitidis also lives in the nose and throat and can be transmitted from person to person via droplets as people cough and sneeze.

Meningitis outbreaks have occurred worldwide[15] over the years, and a high proportion of people who become sick with it die. Survivors sometimes have severe, lifelong disability.

Like with S. pneumoniae, there is both prevention (via a vaccine[16]) and treatment (with antibiotics) for N. meningitidis infections. But there is also growing antibiotic resistance[17].

So getting vaccinated, and avoiding antibiotic overuse, are important ways to reduce the risk of being seriously impacted by this bacteria.

Read more: What is meningococcal disease and what are the options for vaccination?[18]

4. Respiratory syncytial virus

Respiratory syncytial virus (or RSV) is a common virus causing a flu-like lung infection called bronchiolitis[19]. This mostly seriously affects children under the age of two[20].

Although RSV infections usually cause mild cold symptoms, they are also responsible for a significant number of deaths in children under five worldwide[21].

Young child in hospital with nebuliser to help breathing RSV can be particularly serious in toddlers. Shutterstock[22]

During COVID lockdowns around the world, RSV infections were at a historic low[23] for a year. But they started rising again in April 2021 even in the Northern Hemisphere (for example, in the United States[24] and the United Kingdom[25]) where countries were entering summer.

Doctors usually expect to see spikes of RSV in winter months, and before COVID many assumed this was because it survived and replicated better in colder weather.

However, we now realise RSV is less dependent on colder temperatures in winter and more dependent on our hygiene behaviours[26].

So for the sake of our little ones we should not lose all the good habits we developed to combat COVID, such as staying home when sick, washing our hands, covering our coughs/sneezes and wearing masks in higher risk settings.

5. Rhinovirus

Rhinovirus continued to spread throughout the pandemic and infections even shot up[27] in some countries. But I am including it in this list as its prevalence holds some fascinating potential in our fight against COVID.

Rhinovirus, like RSV, is a major cause of the common cold, particularly in infants. Both rhinovirus and RSV show the same symptoms. So without doing a diagnostic test it is impossible to tell which of these someone has[28]. They require the same acute treatment anyway.

However, recently there has been interest in distinguishing between them for two reasons.

First, if a child has a rhinovirus infection in early childhood they may have a higher risk of recurrent respiratory symptoms and a higher risk of developing recurrent wheezing and childhood asthma[29].

Second, there is the exciting potential for rhinovirus infections to actually train our immune system[30] to block other viruses, such as the coronavirus and influenza. This is still in the early stages of research but is something to watch.

Read more: Health Check: what's the right way to blow your nose?[31]

What about COVID testing?

We can reduce the impact of these five germs by keeping up simple hygiene habits, getting immunised where possible, and making sure we only use antibiotics when absolutely necessary.

However, if you do have respiratory symptoms as restrictions ease, and as symptoms do overlap with COVID[32], you should get a COVID test.

References

  1. ^ internationally (www.theguardian.com)
  2. ^ Curious Kids: Why does my snot turn green when I have a cold? (theconversation.com)
  3. ^ 290,000 to 650,000 people (www.who.int)
  4. ^ vanished (www.who.int)
  5. ^ lot more of it around (www.nature.com)
  6. ^ Health Check: when is 'the flu' really a cold? (theconversation.com)
  7. ^ study (www.thelancet.com)
  8. ^ most at risk (www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au)
  9. ^ Shutterstock (www.shutterstock.com)
  10. ^ Australian vaccination schedule (www.health.gov.au)
  11. ^ three out of every ten cases (www.cdc.gov)
  12. ^ steward our use of antibiotics (bmjopen.bmj.com)
  13. ^ Why resistance is common in antibiotics, but rare in vaccines (theconversation.com)
  14. ^ international study (www.thelancet.com)
  15. ^ outbreaks have occurred worldwide (www.thelancet.com)
  16. ^ vaccine (wwwnc.cdc.gov)
  17. ^ antibiotic resistance (www.sciencedirect.com)
  18. ^ What is meningococcal disease and what are the options for vaccination? (theconversation.com)
  19. ^ bronchiolitis (www.rch.org.au)
  20. ^ children under the age of two (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
  21. ^ in children under five worldwide (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
  22. ^ Shutterstock (www.shutterstock.com)
  23. ^ historic low (academic.oup.com)
  24. ^ United States (emergency.cdc.gov)
  25. ^ United Kingdom (www.thelancet.com)
  26. ^ more dependent on our hygiene behaviours (academic.oup.com)
  27. ^ shot up (onlinelibrary.wiley.com)
  28. ^ impossible to tell which of these someone has (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
  29. ^ wheezing and childhood asthma (www.tandfonline.com)
  30. ^ train our immune system (academic.oup.com)
  31. ^ Health Check: what's the right way to blow your nose? (theconversation.com)
  32. ^ symptoms do overlap with COVID (www.health.gov.au)

Read more https://theconversation.com/we-can-expect-more-colds-and-flu-as-covid-restrictions-lift-5-germs-to-look-out-for-170263

Times Magazine

Headless CMS in Digital Twins and 3D Product Experiences

Image by freepik As the metaverse becomes more advanced and accessible, it's clear that multiple sectors will use digital twins and 3D product experiences to visualize, connect, and streamline efforts better. A digital twin is a virtual replica of ...

The Decline of Hyper-Casual: How Mid-Core Mobile Games Took Over in 2025

In recent years, the mobile gaming landscape has undergone a significant transformation, with mid-core mobile games emerging as the dominant force in app stores by 2025. This shift is underpinned by changing user habits and evolving monetization tr...

Understanding ITIL 4 and PRINCE2 Project Management Synergy

Key Highlights ITIL 4 focuses on IT service management, emphasising continual improvement and value creation through modern digital transformation approaches. PRINCE2 project management supports systematic planning and execution of projects wit...

What AI Adoption Means for the Future of Workplace Risk Management

Image by freepik As industrial operations become more complex and fast-paced, the risks faced by workers and employers alike continue to grow. Traditional safety models—reliant on manual oversight, reactive investigations, and standardised checklist...

From Beach Bops to Alpine Anthems: Your Sonos Survival Guide for a Long Weekend Escape

Alright, fellow adventurers and relaxation enthusiasts! So, you've packed your bags, charged your devices, and mentally prepared for that glorious King's Birthday long weekend. But hold on, are you really ready? Because a true long weekend warrior kn...

Effective Commercial Pest Control Solutions for a Safer Workplace

Keeping a workplace clean, safe, and free from pests is essential for maintaining productivity, protecting employee health, and upholding a company's reputation. Pests pose health risks, can cause structural damage, and can lead to serious legal an...

The Times Features

Duke of Dural to Get Rooftop Bar as New Owners Invest in Venue Upgrade

The Duke of Dural, in Sydney’s north-west, is set for a major uplift under new ownership, following its acquisition by hospitality group Good Beer Company this week. Led by resp...

Prefab’s Second Life: Why Australia’s Backyard Boom Needs a Circular Makeover

The humble granny flat is being reimagined not just as a fix for housing shortages, but as a cornerstone of circular, factory-built architecture. But are our systems ready to s...

Melbourne’s Burglary Boom: Break-Ins Surge Nearly 25%

Victorian homeowners are being warned to act now, as rising break-ins and falling arrest rates paint a worrying picture for suburban safety. Melbourne residents are facing an ...

Exploring the Curriculum at a Modern Junior School in Melbourne

Key Highlights The curriculum at junior schools emphasises whole-person development, catering to children’s physical, emotional, and intellectual needs. It ensures early year...

Distressed by all the bad news? Here’s how to stay informed but still look after yourself

If you’re feeling like the news is particularly bad at the moment, you’re not alone. But many of us can’t look away – and don’t want to. Engaging with news can help us make ...

The Role of Your GP in Creating a Chronic Disease Management Plan That Works

Living with a long-term condition, whether that is diabetes, asthma, arthritis or heart disease, means making hundreds of small decisions every day. You plan your diet against m...