There's been an alarming increase of respiratory and gastrointestinal viruses in the United States lately, causing anxiety about a so-called "quad-demic". According to surveillance reports, influenza, COVID-19, RSV and norovirus are at very high levels everywhere. While the surge aligns with patterns typical for this season, several epidemiologists view simultaneous infections of such proportions to pose risks not only to individual healthcare but public health.

The incidence of the quad-demic should vary with seasonal patterns, vaccination rates, and public health interventions. Each virus alone is relatively easy to manage; however, the effect of all together could lead to overburdening of health care facilities and increase risks for those at higher risk. Continuing surveillance, early testing, and proactive prevention measures will play an important role in the control of these infections going forward.

While the term "quad-demic" sounds daunting, it must be taken into perspective. For years, we have had all these viruses together, and we have the capabilities to mitigate some of the risk. Vaccination, proper hygiene and using common sense helps individuals get through the season unscathed. Is the quad-demic a permanent fixture or just another seasonal wave? Let's break this down.

What is the Quad-demic?

Typically, flu, COVID-19, and RSV have been the primary culprits behind seasonal respiratory infections. However, norovirus, a highly contagious stomach bug, has emerged as a fourth significant player, inducing fears of a more severe and widespread viral outbreak. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the U.S. recorded nearly 500 norovirus outbreaks between August and December 2023, a substantial rise from the previous year’s numbers.

While the term "quad-demic" may sound ominous, the seriousness and consequences of such infections should be weighed in light of the U.S. healthcare system's experience with managing viral surges since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

1. Influenza (Flu)

Flu continues to be one of the most common and alarming seasonal illnesses. In the period spanning from 2023 to 2024, there were approximately 40 million cases of flu, and thousands of hospitalizations along with reported 47 deaths have been reported this season. Flu symptoms include fever, chills, cough, sore throat, muscle pain, and fatigue, with most recovering within a week or two but risky factors for severe illness effects occur in young children, elderly, and people with chronic conditions.

2. Covid-19

Despite its reduction from the first pandemic peak, COVID-19 is still rampant. The CDC estimates that alone between October and December 2023, there were between 2.7 and 5 million cases in the U.S. Hospitalization has increased by cities such as Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York. Symptoms are closely similar to the flu, fever, cough, and fatigue but uniquely presents in some cases as loss of taste and smell.

3. RSV

RSV is the most common cause of lower respiratory infections in infants, older adults, and immunocompromised individuals. While RSV peaked late in 2023 and early 2024, it continues to be a threat because it can lead to bronchiolitis and pneumonia. It is very similar to the common cold, presenting with symptoms such as congestion, runny nose, coughing, and fever, which can make it difficult to differentiate from flu or COVID-19 without testing.

4. Norovirus

Norovirus, also called the "stomach flu," is a highly contagious infection of the gastrointestinal tract, not a respiratory virus. It transmits quickly from contaminated food and water and contact with contaminated surfaces, causing such symptoms as diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, and stomach pain. Cases have shot up, the CDC said Monday, with reports of outbreaks surging compared with last year.

Is There a Challenge In Diagnosis Due to Overlapping Symptoms?

The greatest challenge during the quad-demic is how the four viruses are alike and thus make identification very hard with no testing applied. Most cases present symptoms common to all viruses: fever, tiredness, body pains, and respiratory, which includes coughing and congestions for influenza, COVID-19, and RSV; the other would be norovirus symptoms as nausea and vomiting can appear even in extreme influenza and COVID-19. This overlap increases the risk of misdiagnosis and delayed treatment, hence the need for early testing and proper medical guidance.

Also Read: Is US Preparing For A Quad- demic 2025?

Effective Prevention Strategies That Work

The best defense against these viruses is a combination of vaccines, hygiene, and lifestyle precautions. While lifestyle modifications are highlighted as part of the constant need to eat healthy, ensure daily movement and drinking adequate amount of fluids. There is a sure short two preventive strategies that are effective:

Vaccination

• Flu vaccine: Annual flu shots reduce the severity of infection, allergic flare ups and hospitalizations.
• COVID-19 vaccine: Though COVID-19 cases have declined, vaccination remains critical in preventing severe outcomes.
• RSV vaccine: Available for those aged 60 years and older, especially those with underlying conditions.
• Norovirus vaccine: No vaccine is yet available, but mRNA vaccine research is in progress.

Hygiene and Sanitation

• Washing hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after public exposure.
• Disinfect frequently touched surfaces regularly, use sanitiser when outside.
• Avoid close contact with infected people and wear masks.

Do You Need To Wear A Mask All The Time?

While debates on masked wear continue on, experts on mask-wear affirm that this does not only have a historical precedent but works towards reducing airborne viruses spreading within the environments. Hospitals, though, ensure masking in key sections of themselves. Publicized mask-wear remains a discretion, though massing indoors still goes a longer way in cases like peak flu seasons.

If you notice the symptoms of these viruses, then it's best to be confined at home and avoid having face-to-face interaction with others and seek immediate attention from your physician if your condition worsens. Quarantining for some days can decrease the spread of infection.

As we move into the first half of 2025 and beyond, staying informed and proactive is the best strategy for maintaining health and avoiding unnecessary panic. The key takeaway? Stay vigilant, but don’t be alarmed—these viruses are here, but so are the means to fight them.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled the Ayush Mark at the Second WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine on Friday. The Ayush Mark is envisioned as a global standard for quality Ayush products and services. The WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine was held at Bharat Mandapam from December 17 to December 19, 2025, with this year’s theme, “Restoring balance: The science and practice of health and well-being.” Speaking at the closing ceremony, PM Modi highlighted India’s rising leadership in promoting traditional medicine as an evidence-based, integrated, and people-focused part of global health systems.

Alongside the Ayush Mark, PM Modi also introduced the My Ayush Integrated Services Portal (MAISP), the central digital platform of the Ayush Grid, released a commemorative Ashwagandha postal stamp, the WHO technical report on Yoga training, and the book “From Roots to Global Reach: 11 Years of Transformation in Ayush.” He also presented the Prime Minister’s Awards for Outstanding Contribution to the Promotion and Development of Yoga, recognizing both national and international individuals and organizations for their exceptional service.

Speaking at the event, he said, “Over the past three days, experts from across the world in traditional medicine have held meaningful discussions here. I am glad India is providing a strong platform for this, and the WHO has actively participated. It is our good fortune and a matter of pride that the WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine has been established in Jamnagar, India. The world entrusted us with this responsibility with great confidence at the first Traditional Medicine Summit.”

What Is The Ayush Mark?

The Ayush Mark is a label issued by the Ministry of Ayush for Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Siddha, Unani, and Homoeopathy products and services. The Ayush Mark Certification Scheme has been run by the Quality Council of India (QCI) since 2009.

Products and services carrying the Ayush Mark follow quality manufacturing practices, use standard raw materials, and undergo safety testing. The Ayush Mark and its two previous certification levels have existed for several years. The new label builds on them and aims to set a global benchmark for traditional medicine products and services. Earlier certifications included the Ayush Standard Mark and the Ayush Premium Mark.

The Ayush Standard Mark follows Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) for Ayurvedic, Siddha, and Unani medicines under Schedule T of the Drugs and Cosmetic Rules, 1945. The Ayush Premium Mark is aligned with WHO GMP guidelines for herbal medicines.

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, also attended the WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine. He praised PM Modi for elevating traditional medicine to a global platform. Dr Tedros commended India for turning vision into action, calling the country a global leader in transforming traditional medicine from heritage to evidence-informed practice. He highlighted landmark initiatives like the establishment of the Ministry of Ayush and the WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine in Jamnagar, noting these efforts have strengthened the integration of traditional medicine into health systems, research, and policy, supporting universal health coverage and sustainable development worldwide.

Global Recognition and Impact of Ayush Mark

The Ayush Mark is not just a certification but a step toward placing Indian traditional medicine on the world stage. By setting internationally recognized quality benchmarks, it aims to boost confidence among global consumers and practitioners, encouraging the adoption of Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy, Siddha, Unani, and Homoeopathy products and services worldwide. This initiative reinforces India’s role in shaping evidence-based, safe, and sustainable traditional medicine practices across borders.

The Trump administration is reportedly preparing to announce changes to the childhood immunisation schedule early next year, with a proposal that would recommend fewer vaccines and bring U.S. policy closer to Denmark’s model. A source familiar with the discussions told NewsNation correspondent Libbey Dean that the revised schedule, expected next year, would involve fewer shots and would be “more in line with Denmark’s vaccination schedule,” according to The Hill. This has raised an important question: what does Denmark’s vaccine schedule look like, and is it realistic for the U.S. to follow it?

Denmark Vaccine Schedule: What Is It?

Denmark runs a clearly defined childhood vaccination programme that is free and voluntary, aimed at protecting children from serious infectious diseases. Infants are given combination vaccines that cover diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, polio, and Haemophilus influenzae type b, along with the pneumococcal vaccine, at 3, 5, and 12 months. Children receive their first dose of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine at 15 months, with a second dose at 4 years.

A booster shot for diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, and polio is administered at 5 years. Around the age of 12, both boys and girls are offered the HPV vaccine to reduce the risk of cancers linked to the virus. Vaccines for chickenpox, rotavirus, hepatitis A, or meningococcal disease are not routinely included in Denmark’s standard schedule, according to official guidance from the Danish Health Authority’s Childhood Vaccination Programme.

RFK Jr. Is Considering Denmark Vaccine Schedule For US

Reports suggest that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is exploring additional changes to federal childhood vaccine recommendations, with a focus on aligning them more closely with those followed by other developed nations, especially Denmark, as per The Washington Post. This discussion comes after a meeting earlier this month of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), where childhood vaccine schedules in the U.S. and Denmark were reviewed and adjustments to the U.S. schedule were made. It was followed by a memorandum from President Trump directing HHS to begin a “process to align U.S. core childhood vaccine recommendations with best practices from peer, developed countries.”

Denmark Vaccine Schedule: What Happens If the US Adopts It?

If the U.S. were to adopt Denmark’s schedule in full, it would result in fewer vaccines being recommended for children up to age 18. When comparing vaccines that are universally advised in both countries, Denmark’s programme covers protection against 10 diseases, while the U.S. schedule includes vaccines for 16 diseases, following the removal of hepatitis B from universal recommendations. The additional vaccines recommended in the U.S. address respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), rotavirus, varicella, hepatitis A, and meningococcal disease. Although the U.S. advises more childhood vaccines than many comparable countries, Denmark stands out for recommending fewer than most. Data from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) vaccine scheduler shows that none of the other 29 ECDC member countries limits its routine childhood schedule to just 10 diseases. Several countries, including Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, and Poland, recommend vaccines against 15 or more diseases, while Austria’s schedule covers 17 diseases, which is even more than the U.S. currently recommends.

Every country follows its own process when setting vaccine recommendations, shaped by its specific circumstances. Childhood immunisation schedules are built over years by reviewing available evidence and weighing factors such as healthcare systems, insurance coverage, public health infrastructure, and national priorities. This explains why vaccine schedules vary across countries, and so far, no developed nation has based its decisions solely on what another “peer” country does.

Importantly, Denmark’s approach is not based on a different interpretation of vaccine science or effectiveness. Instead, Danish health authorities prioritise recommending vaccines that significantly lower the risk of death or serious illness in children. For instance, while rotavirus infections do occur among children in Denmark, they rarely result in death or long-term harm in a setting with universal healthcare access, strong medical systems, and lower inequality than in the U.S. By contrast, neighbouring countries such as Norway and Finland do include the rotavirus vaccine in their routine schedules, as does the U.S., where before the vaccine was introduced, rotavirus caused an estimated 2.7 million infections each year, leading to 55,000 to 70,000 hospitalisations and 20 to 60 deaths among children under five.

Delhi yet again woke up to a thick smog blanketed Saturday morning. The AQI stood at 380 for the city, which puts it under the 'very poor' category, as of 7am, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). Several parts of the city also recorded with in the 'severe' limits of air pollution, with multiple stations recording AQI above 400. These areas include Anand Vihar and Sarai Kale Khan recorded 428 AQI, ITO recorded 429, Akshardham recorded 420, Ashok Vihar recorded 407, and Rao Tularam Marg recorded 403.

While GRAP Stage IV is enforced in the capital to combat the pollution problem, amid this, Minister of State for Environment and Climate Change Kriti Vardhan Singh told the Rajya Sabha on Thursday that there is no direct correlation between higher Air Quality Index or AQI levels and lung diseases. He said that there is no "conclusive data" to establish such a link. However, he did say that air pollution is one of the "triggering factors" for respiratory ailments and associated diseases.

Read: AQI Explained: It’s Not Temperature, As Delhi CM Says, Here’s What the Air Quality Index Really Means

What Do Doctors And Research Say On The Link of Lung Diseases And Air Pollution

"Lung cancer is no longer a smoker’s but a breather’s disease," said Dr Arvind Kumar, chairman, Lung Transplant, Chest Surgery and Oncosurgery at Medanta, Gurugram, as reported by The Indian Express. He treated a 31-year-old patient from Ghaziabad with lung cancer, who had never smoked in her life.

Read: Lung Cancer No Longer A Smoker's Disease, It's A Breather's Disease: Story Of A 31-year-old Non-smoker NCR Woman Who Had Stage 2 Lung Cancer

"Younger non-smokers are being diagnosed. And there are as many women as men. This indicates that lung cancer is no longer a smoker’s but a breather’s disease. While we talk of particulate matter, the ambient air in the urban environment is full of carcinogenic gases. And this is emerging as a real threat to everybody," the doctor said.

Dr Shivanshu Raj Goyal, a pulmonologist and Associate Director Pulmonary Medicine at MAX Healthcare in Gurugram and Delhi, in an Instagram video said that breathing this toxic air is equivalent to smoking 20 cigarettes in a day. The doctor starts his video with a rather strong statement, "At present, no one in Delhi-NCR is a non-smoker."

The doctor also states that on an average, a person breathes around 20,000 times in a day, so it means we are inhaling the toxic air at least 20,000 times a day.

As per a 2017 study titled Pulmonary Health Effects of Air Pollution, it is clear that lung cancer could be exacerbated due to exposure to a variety of environmental air pollutants with greatest effects due to particulate matter (PM), ozone, and nitrogen oxides.

Also Read: Lancet Study Estimates 15 Lakh Annual Air Pollution Deaths in India; Centre Calls Data 'Inconclusive'

As per Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), a cigarette contains nicotine, and tar, which is composed of chemicals like benzene, benzopyrene, and the gas includes carbon monoxide, ammonia, dimethyl nitrosamine, cadmium, formaldehyde, hydrogen cyanide and acrolein. Some of these marked irritant properties are also carcinogen, meaning, it can cause cancer.

Whereas Air Pollution contains pollutants like particulate matter PM 10 and PM 2.5, ozone, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, cadmium and sulfur dioxide. Air pollution, which is often a byproduct of combustion or released from vehicle exhaust also contain formaldehyde, benzopyrene, and benzene. As per the World Health Organization (WHO), the pollutants contain carcinogens, and the outdoor air pollution is in fact classified as Group 1 carcinogen.

Read: Breathing Delhi's Toxic Air Is Like Smoking 20 Cigarettes A Day

Common Chemicals We Inhale When We Breathe Delhi's Toxic Air And When We Smoke A Cigarette

Carbon Monoxide: a poisonous, flammable gas that is colorless, odorless, tasteless, and slightly less dense than air.

Benzene: a colorless and highly flammable liquid with a sweet smell, and is partially responsible for the aroma of gasoline.

Cadmium: a soft, silvery-white metal (atomic number 48) that is toxic and naturally found in the environment, but human activities have increased its levels. It is used in products like batteries, pigments, and coatings, and exposure can occur through tobacco smoke, contaminated food, and occupational inhalation. Cadmium is a known human carcinogen that can damage the kidneys and bones.

Formaldehyde: a colorless, flammable gas with a strong odor, whose exposure could cause cancer.

Benzopyrene: a group of organic compounds known as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. It is a colorless crystalline solid found in sources like cigarette smoke, coal tar and is a known carcinogen that can cause cancer and other health problems like skin rashes and bronchitis, and exposure requires medical attention for any symptoms.