A triple threat might be developing for the winter, posing a major concern for weary healthcare workers.
A perfect storm of COVID-19, flu, and RSV cases could all infect the public at large as the temperature lowers amid existing shortages of beds and nurses.
“COVID is lower than it has been and RSV is probably the number one right now,” Dr. Chelsea Sanchez, a provider at Albuquerque’s Journey Pediatrics told KOB.
She said her office is turning down up to 20 families each day despite bringing on a new provider a month ago to help with an increase in cases.
“I would not be surprised if this is what people are reporting in our city the rest of the state and across the country,” Sanchez said.
RSV is currently more prevalent than the flu and COVID.
“People are back to work so their kids are back in daycare so I think that has a lot to do with it because this can spread pretty quickly throughout the daycares,” Sanchez said. “Cold also hit quickly so now everyone’s back inside. They’re not outdoors as much anymore.”
Sanchez said she’s treated one case of the flu in the last couple of weeks, but about five RSV cases in the last 24 hours.
Sanchez said we’ve lived through so-called tripledemics before, maybe without even knowing it. Flu and RSV seasons tend to overlap from October to March, while Coronavirus arrives later into winter.
“I would say this is not new,” Sanchez said. “I would say we’ve probably had tripledemics for years now. It’s usually RSV and flu and some other virus.”
She said children under age two are at the highest risk for complications from flu and RSV. “If you’re sick and you’re around kids under two years old, keep your distance a little bit,” Sanchez warned.
She advised the use of hand sanitizer, vitamins C and D, and zinc.
“The older generation is at risk so RSV and flu hit the young and the old,” Sanchez said.
UNM Hospital has a pediatric ER that stays open later than other offices.