Flu levels in New Hampshire are higher at this point of the year than they have been in a decade, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC said high levels of influenza, along with cases of COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus, stress the health care system. RSV cases remain high nationwide, but the CDC said they may be leveling off in New England. COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are increasing, which was expected after Thanksgiving, the agency said. Martha Wassell, director of infection prevention at Wentworth-Douglass Hospital, said she was concerned she could provide standard day-to-day elective care if cases spiked. .She said right now they are in good shape. “With that said and seeing, by observing what we know is looming on the horizon, we are preparing our staffing matrices and preparing for an influx of patients requiring our care,” Wassel said. Catholic Medical Center staff said capacity has been an issue since the pandemic began. Alan Flanigan’s biggest concern is the rise in RSV cases, especially since children, like the rest of us, have likely been spending more time alone. social distancing was so effective with COVID,” Flanigan said. Health officials have urged all eligible people to keep up to date with their COVID-19 and flu vaccines. There is no vaccine available for RSV yet, so the CDC said practicing good hygiene and staying home if you are sick is key to preventing the spread of the virus. There are treatments available for the flu and COVID-19, so anyone who feels sick should talk to their doctor as soon as symptoms appear. The CDC said flu shots are especially important for people at higher risk of serious illness, including people younger than 5 or older than 65, as well as pregnant people with certain health problems. underlying health. The CDC said vaccination rates for high-risk groups are lower than they were this time last year.
Flu levels in New Hampshire are higher at this point of the year than they have been in a decade, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The CDC said high levels of influenza, along with cases of COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus, are stressing the healthcare system.
RSV cases remain high nationwide, but the CDC said they may be leveling off in New England. COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are increasing, which was expected after Thanksgiving, the agency said.
Martha Wassell, director of infection prevention at Wentworth-Douglass Hospital, said she was concerned she could provide standard non-emergency daily care if cases spiked.
She said that at the moment they are in good shape.
“With that said and seeing, by observing what we know is looming on the horizon, we are preparing our staffing matrices and preparing for an influx of patients requiring our care,” Wassel said.
Catholic Medical Center staff said capacity has been an issue since the pandemic began.
Dr. Alan Flanigan’s biggest concern is the rise in RSV cases, especially since children, like the rest of us, have likely been spending more time alone.
“You have a population that’s very sensitive to the immune system, they haven’t been exposed in the last two years because masking and social distancing has been so effective with COVID,” Flanigan said.
Health officials have urged all eligible people to keep up to date with their COVID-19 and flu vaccines. There is no vaccine available for RSV yet, so the CDC said practicing good hygiene and staying home if you are sick is key to preventing the spread of the virus.
There are treatments for the flu and COVID-19, so anyone who feels sick should tell their doctor as soon as symptoms appear.
The CDC said flu shots are especially important for people at higher risk of serious illness, including people younger than 5 or older than 65, as well as pregnant people with certain health problems. underlying health.
The CDC said vaccination rates for high-risk groups are lower than they were this time last year.
#Rising #flu #levels #Hampshire #put #strain #healthcare #system