One new person died from influenza-related causes in North Carolina over the past week, bringing the state’s death toll this flu season to four.
Latest data from the state This shows an 84% increase in the number of positive influenza cases compared to the previous week.
Three of the deaths were over the age of 65 and one was between the ages of 25 and 49.
Bethany Riego, a mother of four, is preparing for the holidays while bracing for the challenges of virus season.
“I’m sure you’re a little nervous, but let’s be as prepared as we can and keep everyone safe,” said mother Bethany Riego.
For the first time in at least a year, positive cases of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) have outnumbered cases of COVID-19. The number of RSV infections increased by 21% compared to the previous week, and the number of new coronavirus infections increased by 15%.
The number of emergency room visits by people with respiratory illnesses increased 14% from the previous week.
“Unfortunately, these viruses typically occur around the holidays, when everyone gathers,” said Dr. Zach Willis, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at UNC Children’s.
Willis advises parents to take several precautions to protect their children during family holiday gatherings. One important step is to encourage guests who are sick to refrain from attending your event. This simple measure can greatly reduce the risk of spreading illness and ensure a safe and enjoyable gathering for everyone.
Here are some additional tips to protect children during holiday gatherings.
- Wash your hands frequently: Remind children to wash their hands frequently, especially after touching their face and before eating. If soap and water are not available, hand sanitizer can be used as a backup.
- Cover coughs and sneezes: Teach children to cover their coughs and sneezes with their elbow or a tissue and to avoid touching their faces.
- Avoid close contact with sick people: If a family member or guest is sick, ask them to stay home and avoid close contact with children.
- Stay home if you are sick: If your child is sick, send them home from the gathering to avoid spreading the illness to others.
Looking at the breakdown of emergency department visits, there was a 7% increase in visits due to the new coronavirus infection, a 32% increase in patients suspected of having influenza, and a 15% increase in visits for patients infected with RSV.
The number of people hospitalized with coronavirus increased by 5%. Influenza hospitalizations increased by 26% from the previous week. Coronavirus particles detected in wastewater were down 8% from the previous week.
complete data is available here.