The Washington PostThe Washington Post

How a viral siege is making some people sick for weeks, even months

By Ariana Eunjung Cha

16 Dec 2022 · 9 min read

Editor's Note

Flu, RSV and Covid again: The U.S. is suffering a "big bomb of viruses"—and it's happening in Europe too. The Washington Post explains why viruses are now wreaking havoc on an exhausted population.

It started in mid-September with Vance, 5, who came down with RSV and wheezed so badly that his skin was pulling in and out of his ribs with every breath. His little brother Banks, then 11 months old, caught it too. Things were just starting to get better in October, when the boys caught a nasty cold that resulted in more sleepless nights. In November, the flu hit, bringing fevers of 102 degrees.

"It feels like a never-ending cycle," said their mom, Michelle Huber of Louisville. "We are beyond exhausted."

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