The following article is from Johns Hopkins University

An uptick in sore throats, coughs, and fevers are telltale signs that flu season has arrived in the United States. But this fall, those common symptoms might be a sign of something more sinister: Public health experts warn we are likely facing a "tripledemic," the convergence of flu, COVID-19, and the respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV.

Early data suggests that the U.S. is in for a worse than average flu season, and high levels of RSV in children are already straining pediatric hospitals across the country. These factors, compounded by COVID and the ever-possible chance of a new variant, are sounding alarm bells in health care systems, says Brian Garibaldi, director of the Johns Hopkins Hospital Biocontainment Unit and an associate professor of medicine and physiology in the division of pulmonary and critical care, where he attends in the medical intensive care unit.

What can we expect from the "tripledemic" in the coming months?

It's early to know, but there are signs that we're likely in for a bad flu season. The estimated number of flu cases compared to pre-COVID flu seasons is well above what we would expect to see in October. In the southern hemisphere, which is usually a good benchmark for what our flu season might look like, and in Australia specifically, they had a much earlier peaking flu season with a higher case count. We're seeing similar trends in the U.S. as they saw at the start of the flu season in Australia. The good news is that this year's flu vaccine seems to be very effective at preventing severe disease, based on data from the flu season in Chile. Now would be a great time to go ahead and get your flu vaccine.

Shelly Driscoll joined the Health Department in November 2020 as a COVID investigator and transitioned to WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) in April 2021. She is transitioning to a new position at the Senior Center next week.

"I really enjoy meeting new people, and the kids are so fun to see," she said. " I enjoy being able to help others meet their everyday needs and just be there for some that need a sounding board"

As WIC administrative assistant, Shelly's was usually the first voice new clients heard on the phone or face they saw when they walked in the door.

"We enjoyed having Shelly in our building and are so excited for her to start her new role at the Senior Center," said Jason Tiller, Saline County Health Officer. "She is very personable and resourceful. We're sad to see her go but feel lucky that she is staying at the County."

Shelly and her husband have been married for 31 years.

"Although we were both born and raised in Salina, we never knew each other until we were in our 20s and met while employed at Tony's. He is now retired and is my 'househusband' so after work I can relax," she said with a grin. "We have three adult sons and a 2-year-old granddaughter that is the light of our lives. We also have three dogs, and it's not unusual to be stuck with one or two of our sons' dogs on occasion."

Shelly and her husband enjoy the outdoors, spending time with family, and traveling.

Good luck, Shelly! And congratulations on your new position!

The Saline County Health Department is proud to report that a recertification survey was completed at our Home Health Agency by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment on behalf of the Centers for Medicare/Medicaid Services to determine if we are in compliance with federal participation requirements for a Home Health Agency. The recertification survey of the Saline County Home Health Agency resulted in a finding of no deficiency citations.

“There are no words to express how thankful and appreciative I am to work with such an amazing group of professionals," said Christi Ponton, Home Health Coordinator. "Their passion and dedication to this agency and our patients are like no other organization I have ever worked with. It’s exciting to see the strength of our team despite the challenges we have encountered over the last few years!”

COVID deaths, cases down.

Find out more about the COVID-19 situation in Saline County, Kansas -

Mike grew up in a typical blue-collar family, playing street hockey and pickup football in local parks. He was always a good student and excelled as a three-sport varsity athlete in high school. During his senior year in high school, Mike had surgery to repair a broken wrist due to a hockey injury. Following his surgery, he was prescribed an opioid pain medication. Shortly after this, his wisdom teeth were removed, and he was written another prescription for opioids. Mike believes his use of prescription opioids transitioned to addiction within three to six months after first taking prescription opioids. He did not realize how physically dependent upon opioids his body had become until he became very sick from withdrawal after forgetting to bring his prescription on a vacation. From then on, he continued taking prescription opioids not to treat any pain, but to avoid feeling these withdrawal symptoms ever again. As his addiction progressed, he recalls completely losing sight of his goals and the things he once loved. Mike eventually had to stop playing sports in college and drop out of his classes. He became depressed and described his addiction as “isolating.”

After multiple recovery attempts and a hard-won battle, Mike overcame his addiction and is now thriving in recovery. He returned to school, earned his bachelor’s degree, and is currently pursuing a graduate degree. Mike is now a passionate advocate for those struggling with addiction, a certified intervention professional, and the founder of Wicked Sober LLC. His business is a Recovery Centers of America Company that assists those struggling with drug and alcohol dependency in the process of achieving recovery.