US Children's Hospitals Report Surge in RSV Infection
2022-10-26
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1Children's hospitals in parts of the United States are reporting a worrying surge in respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV.
2The common virus affects the breathing system, usually causing minor sickness like a runny nose and cough.
3But RSV infections can cause much more serious disease in babies and old people.
4RSV cases dropped sharply two years ago when the pandemic led to shutdowns of most public activity.
5But with restrictions easing in the summer of 2021, doctors saw a concerning increase in RSV infections.
6The disease usually spreads in the autumn and winter seasons.
7Doctors are preparing for the possibility that RSV, flu and COVID-19 may all surge in the coming months.
8Experts worry that such an event could cause greater medical demand than hospitals can meet.
9"I'm calling it an emergency," said Dr. Juan Salazar of Connecticut's Children's Hospital.
10There, RSV has forced led the hospital to repurpose some spaces in the building as patient rooms.
11Most people infected with RSV can pass the virus over a three to eight day period.
12But, babies and people with weakened immune systems can spread RSV for up to four weeks.
13There is no vaccine for it, though several candidates are in testing.
14RSV can infect anyone.
15But it causes the most threat to babies, older adults and people with weakened immune systems.
16These groups are at greater risk of developing serious lung infections from RSV.
17Around 58,000 Americans under the age of five require hospital treatment for RSV in a usual year.
18The disease also kills as many as 500 children under five in the U.S. ever year.
19For adults 65 and older, RSV causes 177,000 hospitalizations and 14,000 deaths yearly.
20For babies, the struggle to breathe can interfere with eating.
21Experts are suggesting several reasons for the current RSV surge.
22They note that babies and children were less exposed to RSV and other common diseases during the pandemic lockdowns.
23Now that restrictions have ended, children face higher chances of contact with RSV.
24Also, experts say immune systems might not be as prepared to fight the virus after more than two years of masking, said Dr. Elizabeth Mack.
25She is with the Medical University of South Carolina.
26Last week, tests identified RSV infections in more than 7,000 people, said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
27 That is more than in past outbreaks.
28There is no cure for RSV. Doctors may provide a steroid medicine or an inhaler to patients to ease their breathing.
29In serious cases, patients can require oxygen assistance, a breathing tube or a ventilator.
30To prevent the spread of viruses, people should wash their hands and stay home if feeling sick.
31During RSV season, an injection of an antibody-based medicine is sometimes given to protect babies at very high risk.
32I'm Ashley Thompson.
1Children's hospitals in parts of the United States are reporting a worrying surge in respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV. 2The common virus affects the breathing system, usually causing minor sickness like a runny nose and cough. But RSV infections can cause much more serious disease in babies and old people. 3RSV cases dropped sharply two years ago when the pandemic led to shutdowns of most public activity. But with restrictions easing in the summer of 2021, doctors saw a concerning increase in RSV infections. The disease usually spreads in the autumn and winter seasons. 4Doctors are preparing for the possibility that RSV, flu and COVID-19 may all surge in the coming months. Experts worry that such an event could cause greater medical demand than hospitals can meet. 5"I'm calling it an emergency," said Dr. Juan Salazar of Connecticut's Children's Hospital. There, RSV has forced led the hospital to repurpose some spaces in the building as patient rooms. 6Most people infected with RSV can pass the virus over a three to eight day period. But, babies and people with weakened immune systems can spread RSV for up to four weeks. There is no vaccine for it, though several candidates are in testing. 7RSV can infect anyone. But it causes the most threat to babies, older adults and people with weakened immune systems. These groups are at greater risk of developing serious lung infections from RSV. 8Around 58,000 Americans under the age of five require hospital treatment for RSV in a usual year. The disease also kills as many as 500 children under five in the U.S. ever year. 9For adults 65 and older, RSV causes 177,000 hospitalizations and 14,000 deaths yearly. 10For babies, the struggle to breathe can interfere with eating. 11Experts are suggesting several reasons for the current RSV surge. 12They note that babies and children were less exposed to RSV and other common diseases during the pandemic lockdowns. Now that restrictions have ended, children face higher chances of contact with RSV. 13Also, experts say immune systems might not be as prepared to fight the virus after more than two years of masking, said Dr. Elizabeth Mack. She is with the Medical University of South Carolina. 14Last week, tests identified RSV infections in more than 7,000 people, said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). That is more than in past outbreaks. 15There is no cure for RSV. Doctors may provide a steroid medicine or an inhaler to patients to ease their breathing. In serious cases, patients can require oxygen assistance, a breathing tube or a ventilator. 16To prevent the spread of viruses, people should wash their hands and stay home if feeling sick. 17During RSV season, an injection of an antibody-based medicine is sometimes given to protect babies at very high risk. 18I'm Ashley Thompson. 19Dan Novak adapted this story for VOA Learning English based on reporting by The Associated Press. 20______________________________________________________________________ 21Words in This Story 22surge - n. to move very quickly and suddenly in a particular direction 23immune system - n. the system that protects your body from diseases and infections 24mask - n. a covering for your face or for part of your face 25steroid - n. a natural substance that is produced in the body 26inhaler - n. a device used for inhaling a medicine 27ventilator - n. a device that lets fresh air enter and move through a room, building, etc.