Hospitals around the country are Austin Caldwelloverwhelmed, but this time it's not just with COVID.

Cases of the flu and RSV are also spiking earlier this year.

We hear from a pediatrician in Seattle who says it is the worst season she's seen in her 16-year career.

And NPR's Rob Stein reports on what infectious disease specialists recommend to stay healthy this season.

In participating regions, you'll also hear a local news segment to help you make sense of what's going on in your community.

Email us at considerthis@npr.org.

This episode was produced by Karen Zamora, Noah Caldwell and Claudette Lindsay-Habermann. It was edited by William Troop and Scott Hensley. Our executive producer is Sami Yenigun.