2026-07-16 22:42:02 Feeling the flu: Doctors see simultaneous uptick in flu and RSV cases – NEW WTOP Skip to main content

Feeling the flu: Doctors see simultaneous uptick in flu and RSV cases

By Gigi Barnett

Local emergency rooms are seeing a rise in flu and respiratory syncytial virus cases at the same time, an uncommon trend.

Respiratory syncytial virus, better known as RSV, tends to peak when the flu season starts to trend down.

That’s not the case this year — the viruses are peaking simultaneously.

Jon Gonella, a physician assistant at MedStar Health, said no one was caught off guard.

“We’re not surprised to see them,” said Gonella. “We fully expect to see them.”

To avoid that flu fever or RSV cough, Gonella said it’s best to go back to the basics.

“Good hand hygiene,” he said. “I know we talk about it a lot. But it really does make a difference.”

The CDC also recommends getting vaccinated and staying home when you feel sick.

While the flu and RSV see an upward tick in cases, there’s one respiratory illness that hasn’t shown up as much this year.

“Not a lot of COVID,” Gonella said.

The Centers for Disease Control ranked COVID-19 as “very low” nationwide and “growing” in the D.C. area.

Massachusetts court hears arguments in lawsuit alleging Meta designed apps to be addictive to kids

By The Associated Press
BOSTON (AP) — Massachusetts' highest court heard oral arguments Friday in the state's lawsuit arguing that Meta designed features on Facebook and Instagram to make them addictive to young users. The lawsuit, filed in 2023 by Attorney General Andrea Campbell, alleges that Meta did this to make a profit and that its actions affected hundreds of thousands of teenagers in Massachusetts who use the social media platforms. “We are making claims based only on the tools that Meta has developed because its own research shows they encourage addiction to the platform in a variety of ways,” said State Solicitor David Kravitz, adding that the state's claim has nothing to do the company's algorithms or failure to moderate content. Meta said Friday that it strongly disagrees with the allegations and is “confident the evidence will show our longstanding commitment to supporting young people.” Its attorney, Mark Mosier, argued in court that the lawsuit “would impose liabilities for performing traditional publishing functions” and that its actions are protected by the First Amendment.
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