The feds need to step up efforts against the virus known as RSV, which is spiking in New York City and beyond, Sen. Chuck Schumer said.
Cohen Children’s Medical Center in Queens saw a 44% increase in admissions in October and November, compared to the same months in 2019, Schumer said. Respiratory syncytial virus accounted for most of the cases.
Local governments have not been tracking RSV trends, but other children’s hospitals in the city and state have seen similar spikes, according to the senator’s office.
Meanwhile, COVID and flu cases have been rising, causing a range of problems at “overwhelmed” hospitals, the senator said Sunday.
“This is increasing waiting times at the emergency rooms,” Schumer said at a press conference.
“It’s caused backlogs, and the fact that it’s in tandem with an increase in flu and we still have COVID means that a lot of our hospitals are getting overwhelmed. It’s straining health care providers across the board.”
RSV has been spreading among children in particular. It’s transmitted by droplets from coughs and sneezes. It usually results in mild cases, but some infants and young kids have had dangerous symptoms including difficulty breathing.
“When a parent or grandparent hears about RSV, and then hears their children has a cold or has difficulty breathing, fear strikes through their hearts,” Schumer said.
He called on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to send staff to New York hospitals if the alarming RSV trend continues.
“HHS has the authority — we’ve given them that by law — to help in scenarios like this,” he said. “I’m calling on them to be ready that if any hospital in New York says we’re short of doctors, we’re short of nurses, we’re short of respirators or short of beds, that they can come and supply those things immediately.”
If there aren’t enough pediatricians available, the feds can transfer patients out of state, boost use of telehealth services and address any supply chain issues, Schumer added.
Almost all children in the U.S. get RSV by age 2, with mild symptoms including fever, coughing and a runny nose.
But tots were sheltered during COVID lockdowns, isolating them from common bugs and potentially preventing their immune systems from developing resistance, experts say.
In severe cases, RSV can cause breathing problems and lead to bad lung infections. That can make it hard for babies to feed.
“That’s really when we start to worry,” said Dr. Melanie Kitagawa of Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston, where cases have also spiked.
“They’re breathing fast, breathing deep. We see them using muscles in their chest to help them breathe,” she added. “These are kids who are having difficulty taking a bottle because their breathing is being impacted and they can’t coordinate both at once.”
There is no RSV vaccine, though several candidates are undergoing testing.
“For now, it’s hard to prevent serious RSV cases. The virus spreads like wildfire,” Schumer said.
The situation has been “unbelievable,” said Charles Schleiein, senior vice president for pediatric services at Northwell Health, which runs Cohen Children’s Medical Center.
“I’ve been practicing medicine for over 40 years. We have never seen an RSV surge like we are having over these past few weeks,” he said. “Our emergency departments have been almost overwhelmed.”
With News Wire Services
