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.

Days after it emerged that over 800 people had gone missing in Delhi during the first 27 days of 2026 and officials requested people to remain calm, Delhi Police has revealed this is false and such claims are being "pushed through paid promotion".

In a statement released on X today morning: "After following a few leads, we discovered that the hype around the surge in missing girls in Delhi is being pushed through paid promotion. Creating panic for monetary gains won't be tolerated, and we'll take strict action against such individuals."

Authorities across the capital claim that dispensing false information about life-altering information such as kidnappings and death through paid promotion can cause as well as amplify fear among the general public, which can massively ruin mental health and cause long-term damage to overall wellbeing.

Dr Kunal Bahrani, Chairman and Group Director, Neurology at Yatharth Hospitals, explained to Healthandme: "Incidents like this highlight how quickly fear can spread in today’s hyperconnected world and how deeply false news can impact mental wellbeing. When people are exposed to alarming information, especially involving safety and crime, the brain’s threat system switches on almost instantly. Stress hormones such as cortisol surge, increasing anxiety, restlessness, sleep disturbances and even physical symptoms like headaches or heart palpitations.

"Repeated exposure to frightening but unverified news can also condition the brain to remain in a constant state of alert, making individuals more irritable, emotionally overwhelmed and prone to panic. For children, elderly people and those already struggling with anxiety or depression, the psychological impact can be far more intense and long-lasting."

However, while many wonder how this form of promotion came into being, Reddit users are already pointing towards Rani Mukerji's Mardaani-3, a movie based on the kidnapping of minor girls as the source for this chaos.

How Does Fear Mongering Ruin Mental Wellbeing?

Fear-mongering severely impacts mental health by triggering chronic stress, anxiety, and depression, often overloading the brain’s threat response system (amygdala) and leading to long-term damage.

Over time, constant exposure to exaggerated, alarming narratives fuels irrational fears and cognitive distortions such as catastrophizing. This constant state of fear can also lead to avoidance behaviors, hopelessness, and physical symptoms like headaches, poor sleep and a weakened immune system.

Dr Neetu Tiwari, MD Psychiatry Senior Resident, NIIMS Medical College & Hospital also told Healthandme: "When things like this happen around us, it creates a sense of panic and fear amongst parents and children. Our brain usually reacts as if the danger is real. The body then becomes alert, our heart beats faster than it should, and our mind stays at tense. Even if the news is proven to be false, this fear that has set in often takes time to settle down.

"Now this in turn causes a lot of trouble. It makes people feel unsafe, so people avoid going out, they worry more about loved ones, or may also keep checking their phones repeatedly for updates. This behavior can lead to anxiety, panic, disturbed sleep, and constant overthinking. Even when the news is fake, fear travels very quickly. And once fear enters our mind, calming down takes time.

"This is why sharing unverified information can unknowingly harm others especially children as it can lead them in feeling scared even to go to school, or sleep alone, or even step outside. In fact in some children this may even cause nightmares or these children become unusually clingy to parents or guardians which further leads to problem in social development and confidence.

Dr. Rajiv Mehta, senior consultant psychologist, Sir Gangaram Hospital added: "The society at large is very gullible and anxiety prone, as we have seen the rise in mental illnesses. The people who are already anxious will get more anxious, the people who are not anxious will get anxious and that will increase the mental instability in the persons.

"And what they and parents are going to do is take a lot of precautions towards their young kids by not allowing them to go outside, to play with the children and go out of society buildings. They will be very fearful and when children will be home bound, then they will spend more time on screens or will have altercations with their parents.

"People should not resort to such kind of things only for the sake of their own materialistic monetary benefit. That is highly condemnable if it has occurred because of these kind of reasons that movie is going to release and they are sensationalizing these things."

Are The Delhi Kidnappings False?

Data obtained from Press Trust of India suggests that a total of 807 people went missing between January 1 and 15, with an average of 54 people going missing every day. Of these, 509 were women and girls, and 298 were men. Among the total reported missing, 191 were minors and 616 were adults.

In an official statement, the police said that, while the data was recorded, January 2026 saw a "decline in the number of missing persons reports when compared with the corresponding period of previous years."

Officials had previously further clarified that no organized gang or criminal network has been found involved in cases of missing or abducted children in Delhi so far.

"Recent public discourse has raised concerns about the welfare of children in Delhi. We appeal to the citizens not to fall prey to the rumours about the spurt in the cases of missing children.

While denying such claims, we also warn rumour mongers of strict legal action for creating unnecessary panic and fear by misrepresenting data.

The safety of every child is of paramount importance to Delhi Police.

"Delhi Police is committed to serve 24x7 and making all out efforts to trace all missing persons and reunite them with distraught family members, at the earliest," they said in a statement released yesterday.

Cheaper copy of Wegovy by Hims & Hers for $49 has drawn tensions, with Novo Nordisk now approaching to take legal actions. The pill by Novo Nordisk is sold for $149. In a statement, Novo said, "The action by Hims & Hers is illegal mass compounding that poses a significant risk to patient safety. Novo Nordisk confirmed that the company will take legal and regulatory actions to protect patients.

“Novo Nordisk will take legal and regulatory action to protect patients, our intellectual property and the integrity of the US gold-standard drug approval framework. This is another example of Hims & Hers’ historic behaviour of duping the American public with knock-off GLP-1 products, and the FDA has previously warned them about their deceptive advertising of GLP-1 knock-offs,” the statement said.

Read: Wegovy Pills Now Available At Your Pharmacies, Here's What To Know About Its Usage

Cheaper Copy Of Wegovy Pill: What Unveiled Afterwards?

After the cheaper copy of the pill was launched by Hims & Hers, shares of Novo Nordisk and rival Eli Lilly fell by 7%. Whereas, stock for Hims & Hers initially spiked after the announcement, but pared gains after Novo said that it would fight the rollout.

Hims & Hers was previously offering compounded semaglutide, the active ingredient in Novo Nordisk's popular weight loss drug Ozempic and Wegovy, in injectable format. The company has now extended to offer the oral version.

Cheaper Copy Of Wegovy Pill: How Much Does This Cost?

Hims & Hers said that the Wegovy copy pill cost $49 for the first month and $99 with a 5-month plan. While semaglutide's patent is protected in the US until 2032, however, Hims & Hers claim that the copies are 'personalized' and therefore legal.

“This compounded product uses a different formulation and delivery system than FDA-approved oral semaglutide,” Hims & Hers said. “This once-a-day pill has the same active ingredient as Wegovy and empowers providers to tailor treatment plans specifically for those who prefer to avoid needles or need smaller doses to help to balance side-effects,” it said.

Cheaper Copy of Wegovy Pill: Novo Nordisk Rejects Hims & Hers Claims

Novo Nordisk however, highlighted that it manufactures Wegovy pill by using SNAC technology. This technology helps in absorption when administered orally. Therefore, it is not clear how Hims & Hers copy formula could match that level of absorption.

Last year, Novo Nordisk and Hims & Hers partnered to offer weight loss jabs at a discounted price to telehealth company's customer. However, Novo Nordisk ended the collaboration just two months later, stating that Hims & Hers used 'deceptive' marketing that put patient safety at risk

Cheaper Copy of Wegovy Pill: Does Eli Lilly Have A Weight Loss Pill Yet?

While rival Eli Lilly does not have the weight loss pill yet, it is expected to launch orforglipron in the first half of this year. The pill is currently pending Food and Drug Administration approval.

Read: Eli Lilly Sends Weight-Loss Pill For Approval: Is Oral GLP-1 As Effective As The Injections?

“With the ... current legal backdrop, there is no reason why HIMS shouldn’t evaluate these launches for every subsequent weight loss product as the market continues to evolve,” Leerink analyst Michael Cherny said in a note to clients.

TrumpRx is live. President Donald Trump on Thursday announced the launch of TrumpRx, a direct-to-customer website that will lower prescription drug costs in the US.

As per the president, millions of Americans would save money through this platform. However, it is still unclear if all patients, especially those with insurance coverage will see more cost saving while using this website to buy their medicines.

TrumpRx is for people willing to pay cash and forgo insurance, which means people without or with limited coverage could benefit.

"You are going to save a fortune and this is also so good for overall health care," said Trump at the TrumpRx launching night on Thursday.

TrumpRx Is Live: How Does It Work?

TrumpRx does not sell drugs directly to American patients, rather acts as a central hub that points them to drugmakers who are offering discounts. For instance, Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk were already offering their popular weight loss drugs at hefty discounts, TrumpRx would further give them discount coupons and redirect them to their website.

This means if someone clicks on Eli Lilly's Zepbound offer, it will send them directly to the company's platform, where the person must submit prescription details.

TrumpRx Is Live: Which Drugs Are Now Cheaper?

At launch, the site only featured medications from five companies, which are:

• AztraZeneca
• Lilly
• EMD Serono
• Novo Nordisk
• Pfizer

However, as per a White House fact sheet, TrumpRx will list drugs from other companies "in coming months".

TrumpRx marks the government’s latest attempt to curb soaring prescription drug prices in the US, which are on average two to three times higher than in other developed countries and can be up to 10 times costlier than in some nations, according to public policy think tank Rand Corp.

TrumpRx Is Live: Is It Really Beneficial?

TrumpRx “doesn’t appear to be a one-stop solution” to high drug costs for most Americans, said Juliette Cubanski, deputy director of the Program on Medicare Policy at KFF, a health policy research organization. While cash-pay options may offer better value for people without insurance, it remains unclear how many individuals would actually benefit from TrumpRx, she noted.

“If someone can already access a medication through their insurance with a relatively affordable copay, there isn’t much added advantage to using the TrumpRx website,” Cubanski said.

She also pointed out that insured consumers who purchase medicines through direct-to-consumer platforms may find those purchases do not count toward their insurance benefits, meaning they do not help meet deductibles or out-of-pocket maximums.

At the same time, Cubanski said TrumpRx could play a role in improving access to certain drugs at lower prices, especially medications that are not widely covered by insurance in the US, such as obesity treatments. Medicare is set to cover weight-loss drugs for the first time later this year under agreements struck by Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk with Trump, though many employers remain reluctant to include these medicines in their coverage.

However, she added that many other drugs expected to be offered on TrumpRx are already commonly covered by insurance, and several are also available as lower-cost generics from rival manufacturers.