Southwest Oklahoma is seeing a spike in RSV and Flu cases a little early in season this year

LAWTON, Okla. (KSWO) – The flu and RSV season began a bit early this yr, and youngsters are those being probably the most affected. Dr. Guernegomba mentioned they usually see the flu and RSV instances improve in October, however this yr numbers surged in September, a few weeks after youngsters began college.

The primary pediatric flu loss of life has been reported within the U.S. and in line with the CDC hospitalizations from the flu and RSV within the U.S. are reaching surprising ranges. Normally, physicians can count on to see a spike beginning in October however this yr it began sooner than normal.

“And actually it’s one month after beginning college in August, so what does it imply,” Dr. Guernegomba mentioned.

Dr. Guernegomba mentioned many youngsters have been born in the course of the pandemic and have been by no means uncovered to the flu or RSV a respiratory sickness harmful for young children.

“So that is the primary time ever, and in addition we don’t do social distancing anymore and we don’t do any masks anymore and kids are completely satisfied and go-go,” Dr. Guernegomba

The regional director of OSDH district 5 says whereas there are positively extra flu instances this yr in comparison with final yr the spike in RSV is what’s actually worrying medical doctors particularly as a result of it doesn’t have a vaccine.

“The RSV is what’s most regarding as a result of its a actually virtually a straight lineup. So far as the variety of instances in comparison with all the opposite years. So RSV is admittedly regarding,” Coms mentioned.

Dr. Guernegomba mentioned the signs of flu and RSV may be comparable however there are some methods to inform the distinction.

“RSV generally you shouldn’t have a fever and the signs are gradual. You begin with a stuffy nostril, runny nostril, and cough and you then transfer to wheeze and actually exhausting to breathe. whereas flu could be very abrupt and you’ve got all the things: fever, stuffy nostril, runny nostril, bang, similar to that,” Dr. Guernegomba mentioned.

There is no such thing as a vaccine for RSV, however there’s a vaccine for the flu. Whereas most individuals speculate on how efficient the flu shot is, Combs, recommends everybody get it.

“No matter how efficient it’s, it would scale back signs of the flu, so if you find yourself getting the flu and also you’ve had your flu vaccine your signs gained’t be as extreme as when you didn’t have the vaccine,” Combs mentioned.

Combs additionally mentioned practising fundamental hygiene habits like washing your palms and masking your mouth when coughing or sneezing will assist management the unfold.

You can even get a free flu shot at Comanche County Well being Division and they’re going to even have a flu shot drive on November sixteenth on the Lawton Farmers Market.

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