CDC reports increase in respiratory viruses, especially in kids, as masks come off in parts of US

[Shiloh]

Source: https://www.mytwintiers.com/news-ca...lly-in-kids-as-masks-come-off-in-parts-of-us/

CDC reports increase in respiratory viruses, especially in kids, as masks come off in parts of US
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Posted: Jun 20, 2021 / 08:57 PM EDT / Updated: Jun 21, 2021 / 07:36 AM EDT

ST. LOUIS (KTVI) – The masks are coming off and winter-like respiratory viruses seem to be coming out of lockdown at the same time.

“A number of our ER visits include patients with common respiratory viruses that we only see during winter months,” said Dr. Kurt Sobush, pulmonologist at SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital in St. Louis.

Cardinal Glennon is seeing a 20% increase in winter-like viruses, including RSV in children up to age 2.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) is a common respiratory virus that typically causes mild, cold-like symptoms that can become more severe, especially in infants and older adults.

“It’s a virus that can escalate beyond just the common cold to something that would include a faster kind of breathing,” Sobush said. “It can increase fever, it can cause at least some difficulties with respiratory distress, where children can have an increased cough that doesn’t seem to quit.”1 in 5 asymptomatic COVID patients will eventually suffer long-haul symptom, study suggests

RSV germs typically spread by coughing and sneezing. Doctors say the reason RSV cases are increasing may be related to less mask wearing and social distancing.

“I think a lot of people blow off at least certain sniffles — things here and there — at least in the summer. That maybe it’s just allergies or maybe it’s just something else altogether,” Sobush said. “But we are seeing at least this uptick in some of the respiratory viruses that we’ve known to be serious in the past. I think it’s just something that we want parents to be cautious about.”

Last week, the CDC issued a health advisory to notify heath care professionals and caregivers about increased RSV activity across parts of the southern U.S. The agency urged RSV testing for people showing signs of acute respiratory illness who test negative for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19...

 

[Pathfinder]

Not just COVID: A virus is having an unprecedented summer surge in Louisiana, hospitalizing babies

BY ANDREA GALLO | STAFF WRITER JUL 15, 2021 - 3:30 PM Comments
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RSV cases are surging across southern states — Louisiana’s Department of Health has officially deemed it RSV season — and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a warning about the spread.

But RSV does not usually skyrocket in the summer. It’s actually known as a winter virus that’s the leading cause of hospitalization among babies under age 1. For hospitals to be chock-full of little ones with RSV in the middle of July is unprecedented, providers say.

“This is the first time that I’ve ever seen a large-scale outbreak in the summertime in the past 20 years,” said Dr. Jay Hescock, who works for Children’s Hospital in New Orleans as an LSU Health Hospitalist Section Chief.

Pediatricians say they are drained, working longer hours and extra shifts, burning through personal protective equipment and wondering whether the surge in cases will let up. Louisiana children’s hospitals are scrambling to find enough beds and staffers to take care of all of the RSV cases, and many have had to stop accepting transfers from other hospitals with their own buildings brimming past capacity.

As the coronavirus delta variant moves through Louisiana — largely affecting adults so far — RSV is sweeping through children, many of whom have been cooped up for more than a year amid coronavirus restrictions that have recently been lifted.

“We knew RSV was coming back and it would be bad,” said Dr. Andres Carrion, a pediatric pulmonologist for Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital. “We’re seeing it early. The thing that worries me is we may not have a flattening. It could be a very long winter.”
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