Hospitals are filling up with people battling both flu and COVID as well as with pediatric patients suffering from Respiratory Syncytial Virus, better known as RSV.
ERs are strained nationwide in what health experts have dubbed a “tripledemic.” With more people becoming ill, there’s less staff available to help with other emergencies like heart attacks or strokes.Dr. Jeffrey Goldhagen, an infectious disease specialist with UF Health, said people are no longer taking preventative measures like social distancing and wearing face masks since COVID-19 restrictions have relaxed. He said this is allowing viruses to spread a lot faster.
In Southeast Georgia, Camden, Glynn, and McIntosh counties reported a combined 142 cases during the week of Nov. 30. Glynn County had 106 reported cases. We know about these cases because of testing done in doctor’s offices. At-home results are not counted, so the reality is the number of cases is likely a little higher.“People need to be getting vaccinated against COVID and by all means, all children and adults -- children over the age of 6 -- need to be getting their influenza shots,” he said., and Florida is categorized as having a high rate of infection and Georgia’s rate is very high.
The CDC estimates at least 78,000 hospitalizations and 4,500 deaths from the flu nationwide so far this season.While there isn’t a vaccine for RSV, Goldhagen says people can protect their children by following similar protocols as we followed during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes limiting contact with people, keeping hands and surfaces clean, and wearing face masks when around other people, or indoors for extended periods.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Tripledemic: CDC director in Philly as COVID, RSV, flu cases riseTripledemic: Dr. Rochelle Walensky is encouraging people to be proactive and take preventative measures, such as wearing a mask, as respiratory illnesses surge.
Read more »
Flu surges on heels of RSV, COVID-19 to overwhelm children's hospitals in CanadaA flu season that started early, hospitalized far more children than usual and overwhelmed emergency departments has revealed that Canada’s health\u002Dcare system…
Read more »
COVID-19, flu and RSV overwhelm hospitals just as pandemic surge briefly subsided“I think we are just in the beginning of, unfortunately, this crisis … I think things are going to get, unfortunately, a little worse,” says San Antonio-based Dr. Mehmood Khan.
Read more »
Chicago RSV cases dipping as flu, COVID, strep throat ramp up, doctors sayRSV cases are slowing down, but flu cases among children and adults are surging and COVID hospitalizations are on the rise compared to a couple weeks ago.
Read more »
The Predicted 'Tripledemic' Is Here: Why Isn't There an RSV Vaccine?Just as experts predicted, American hospitals are battling a triple threat of respiratory viruses this holiday season with RSV, COVID-19, and the flu.
Read more »
RSV, flu and COVID-19: What you need to know about the viruses menacing Jacksonville areaRSV, flu and COVID-19 are all in the Jacksonville area during respiratory virus season. But fortunately they are not following the same schedule.
Read more »