The combination of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and COVID-19 has resulted in Minneapolis and St. Louis Children’s Hospital. Paul is almost at his best, although the reputable health institution says he remains prepared to care for children and families.
The following graph shows an increase in positive evidence of RSV (light blue bars) over the past month, with respiratory disease exploding essentially in early August after remaining mostly dormant during the height of the pandemic. COVID-19 last fall and winter.
Minnesota Department of Health
“There are still no signs that the summer rise in respiratory illnesses, such as RSV, is slowing in Children’s Minnesota. It continues to stretch capacity at Children’s Minnesota hospitals in St. Paul and Minneapolis,” a spokesman for Children’s Minnesota. Bring me the news Friday.
“We are also treating the most severe cases of COVID-19 in children in the state, with an average of five to eight patients at any given time in the last month. Although this figure seems low, when capacity is already extended, it is enough to put more fatigue on our frontline staff “.
The spokesman said Children’s Minnesota is operating at “close to 95% capacity, the highest the hospital system has seen in the entire pandemic.”
It is rare for RSV and other respiratory illnesses to affect masses of children during the summer, while it is usually more common during the winter. Dr. Rob Sicoli, medical director of Children’s Minnesota emergency departments, speculated in August that the increase in VSS could be related to the relaxation of public health guidelines and mandates.
RSV is more common in children 3 years of age or younger. Symptoms include cough, congestion and runny nose, fever, rapid breathing, wheezing, difficulty breathing, and irritability or lethargy.
For now, the end of the RSV and COVID-19 increases in Minnesota is not in sight. In fact, experts are betting on even bigger increases as children return to schools, many of which do not require masks.
“I think we’re likely to have an increase in transmission,” said Dr. Abinash Virk, an infectious disease expert at the Mayo Clinic, when asked about students returning to schools. It also predicts a more active flu season due to the public health and masking guidelines provided.
“Yeah, I think last year … there was almost no flu because we were all masked and we were all very careful,” Dr. Virk said. “We will see an increase in the flu. Definitely higher than last year.”
Regardless of the stress facing health workers, the Children’s Minnesota spokesman said they are “ready to respond quickly to children and families in the region.”