Doctor warns of 'tripledemic' winter health threat

Medical experts have said there was a possibility people could catch three viruses simultaneously

Brits were facing a new health threat in the run up to winter, a GP has warned. Medical experts have said there was a possibility people could catch three viruses simultaneously, in a scenario being dubbed the 'tripledemic'.

Contracting respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), coronavirus and flu all at once could not only "increase the severity of illness", but "make it harder for the body to recover". Health officials were concerned that the combination of the viruses could wreak havoc across the country as temperatures dipped.

Throughout the past two winters, there have been at least 18,000 deaths linked to flu and more than 19,500 deaths associated with Covid, according to UKHSA figures. As a result, those considered vulnerable - including the elderly, care home residents and those with weakened immune systems - were urged to get vaccinated against Covid and flu as soon as possible, the Express reports.

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Speaking to the Manchester Evening News, a GP said: "Each of these viruses can cause severe illness, especially in vulnerable groups like the elderly, young children, and those with weakened immune systems."

In an interview with The Independent, private GP Dr Chun Tang said: “A tripledemic refers to side-by-side outbreaks of three respiratory illnesses, typically occurring during the autumn and winter seasons. It's possible to contract more than one of these viruses together.

"Being infected with multiple respiratory viruses can increase the severity of illness and make it harder for the body to recover, especially for those with weakened immune systems or existing health conditions.”