Emergencies in the face of an upsurge in respiratory diseases, influenza and COVID

NEW YORK (WABC) — Emergency rooms are filling up at a rapid rate and health officials have seen adults with both flu and COVID as well as young pediatric patients with RSV.

The annual winter flu season doesn’t usually start until December or January, but this year started early and was complicated by the spread of other viruses and COVID still lingers.

According to the CDC, 44 states reported high or very high flu activity last week.

Experts say there was likely more spread of respiratory viruses at Thanksgiving gatherings and at crowded airports.

The CDC estimates there have been at least 78,000 hospitalizations and 4,500 deaths from the flu so far this season.

The deaths include at least 14 children.

They say the problem with influenza and RSV is that the viruses add more strain to emergency rooms that experience other emergencies like heart attacks or strokes, hence why we need to be Pay attention to transmission control.

Senator Schumer is asking the Department of Human Services on Sunday to be ready to supply emergency rooms with the doctors and nurses they need.

“Our emergency services have been almost overwhelmed where we are holding out and we are above water, but we are seeing where we would typically see 200 children in a 24 hour period, day in and day out. We have basically been see 300 kids today,” Schumer said.

With the holiday season coming up, health officials are asking you to be careful when going indoors and hosting gatherings.

If you get your flu shot now, you can get this protection before the Christmas and New Year holidays.

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