OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – Proper now, well being consultants are warning of a possible triple well being risk earlier than youngsters head again to the classroom, because the state sees a surge in RSV and COVID-19 instances together with the upcoming flu season.
“There have been simply large outbreaks within the southern states, of RSV infections of children, in the summertime months which is simply extremely unusual,” mentioned OU Well being’s Chief COVID-19 Officer Dr. Dale Bratzler.
In accordance with the CDC, Oklahoma had zero recorded instances of Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus, or RSV, presently final 12 months. Now, Bratzler says to this point this summer season, greater than 100 youngsters have been admitted to the hospital with RSV.
The virus often assaults younger kids within the winter months. If a toddler develops a extreme case of RSV, they’ve problem respiration and are hooked as much as oxygen within the hospital.
“I don’t assume anybody is aware of why the virus is behaving this manner,” mentioned Dr. Bratzler.
Medical doctors mentioned a possible risk is on the horizon with the winter virus making an look in the summertime, rising COVID-19 instances, and the flu season excellent across the nook.
“Influenza, we simply noticed virtually no instances final 12 months,” mentioned the physician. “Final 12 months, just about everybody was carrying a masks. It will not be the identical this 12 months.”
“The one factor you do not need to have occur is to get each COVID and influenza on the similar time,” mentioned Dr. Bratzler.
The physician mentioned proper now, 1,100 new COVID-19 instances are popping up throughout the state on a every day common.
These maps from OU Well being reveals the virus sweeping throughout Oklahoma over the past 20 days with solely a month earlier than colleges begins.
Bratzler is urging mother and father to stop the triple risk with three steps.
“Be sure your youngsters are carrying a masks and educate them find out how to do it. Fairly actually, they’ll do it they usually can do it very successfully,” he mentioned.
Bratzler additionally mentioned mother and father want to ensure their kids over the age of 12 are vaccinated.
“When the influenza vaccine comes out, they need to obtain the influenza vaccine additionally to stop that illness,” mentioned the physician.
On Monday, The Oklahoma Metropolis County Well being Division mentioned 80% of children between 12 to 17 years previous will not be but vaccinated.
The CDC not too long ago issued a warning about rising RSV instances affecting nearly all of southern states.
