Weymouth – South Shore health officials say the system is grappling with lingering staffing shortages and a full emergency room as people battle three respiratory illnesses: COVID-19, RSV and the flu.
Todd Ellerin, Ph.D., Director of Infectious Diseases, South Shore Health, said: “We’ve been dealing with COVID alone for three years, and now we have unprecedented levels of RSV and unprecedented levels of flu early in the season. Not that we didn’t see this in January, but November and early December is very early.”
All but seven states reported high or very high respiratory virus activity this week, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Massachusetts is classified as “very high,” with her 3% of flu-related doctor visits and hospitalizations at about 6%.
Rochelle Walensky, director of the Federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said last week that flu-related hospitalizations this time of year are higher than seen in a decade.
At South Shore Health’s Health Express emergency care facility, about 32% of patients tested for flu in the last week came back positive, compared with 7% for COVID-19, Ellerin said.
“So one in three people has been tested for the flu. Millions of people have the flu all around us,” he said. It emphasizes the importance of receiving medical care, which reduces the chances of needing a hospital.”
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There are vaccines for COVID and influenza, but not for RSV or respiratory syncytial virus, which are particularly dangerous for infants. All three viruses have very similar symptoms, including fever, cough, and upper respiratory symptoms. About 38% of people in Massachusetts have gotten their flu vaccine this season, according to the state.
RSV appears to be on the decline now, Ellerin said, but it was serious early in the season.
“Our pediatrics department has never seen the severity that leads to hospitalization like we have seen this year,” he said.
While flu cases are on the rise, Ellerin said COVID-19 cases have stabilized and hospitals have about 20 patients with the virus. He said deaths from the virus are now rare in hospitals, in part due to advances in treatment.
Ellerin said fewer people were wearing masks than in the past two winters, lowering herd immunity against respiratory infections such as the flu. This has led to more people seeking treatment in clinics, urgent care centers and emergency rooms.
“Generally, you don’t see these amounts every day. If you look at this year compared to last year, they’re significantly higher,” he said. “It’s a respiratory disease and delays in treatment due to the pandemic. All of this contributes to acute care visits.”
The massive increase in sick patients is outraged by the persistent shortages felt in the nation’s healthcare system.There are now an estimated 19,000 acute care hospitals throughout Massachusetts, according to the Massachusetts Health and Hospital Association. There is a job offer for
“There are major staffing issues across the country, health systems are over capacity and staff are working around the clock to care for patients,” he said.
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“There’s a lot of viruses around,” but Ellerin said the rise in respiratory illness hasn’t caused a spike in hospitalizations. I said, “Nothing,” as if it were full of patients.
Ellerin emphasized the importance of booking emergency department appointments for severe cases, such as those with respiratory illnesses who are unable to speak in full sentences. He said the first step should be to call the primary care or pediatrician’s office or visit emergency care.
“If you need an ER, we are here. Despite capacity issues, we do a great job of taking care of urgent illnesses, but many patients come and go home. , didn’t have to be there,” he said.
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