MAP: Emergency Room Visits for Respiratory Illnesses Soar in These States

Emergency room visits for respiratory illnesses are rising sharply across several states as the New Year begins

MAP: Emergency Room Visits for Respiratory Illnesses Soar in These States
MAP: Emergency Room Visits for Respiratory Illnesses Soar in These States

Columbus: A bunch of states are seeing a big jump in hospital visits due to respiratory illnesses as we kick off the New Year.

The CDC says that emergency room visits for flu and RSV are at a “very high” level right now. While COVID-19 visits are still low, flu and RSV cases are on the rise as we get into mid-January.

According to the CDC, the states with the most ER visits for respiratory issues include Arizona, Utah, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Louisiana, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, and New Hampshire.

As of January 1, 2025, the CDC tracks these illness levels based on how things were when COVID, flu, and RSV visits were low.

Pediatric hospitals have been swamped since November with RSV cases, but now flu is joining the mix, says Dr. Jason Newland from Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. He mentioned that hospitals are really busy right now.

For parents, figuring out what’s going on with their kids can be tough. Dr. Frank Esper, a pediatric infectious disease specialist, pointed out that kids often face a lot of infections in their early years.

RSV, flu, and COVID-19 can all show similar symptoms like fever, cough, and tiredness, making it tricky to know what’s what. Doctors often rely on tests to get a clear diagnosis.

Some symptoms can help distinguish between them. For example, kids with RSV might wheeze, while high fevers are more typical of the flu.

Health officials recommend that everyone six months and older get a flu shot, and it’s not too late to do so. They also suggest washing hands often and avoiding close contact with sick folks.

On top of that, the CDC is keeping an eye on norovirus outbreaks and a specific type of bird flu, but the overall risk to the public remains low.

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