Cape Fear Valley Medical Center doctor warns of 'triple-demic' this winter with RSV, flu and COVID
The number of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections across North Carolina continues to rise.
Some doctors in Fayetteville are being overwhelmed by new patients seeking treatment.
WRAL News learned on Friday that the emergency room at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center is packed, and the 25 beds in the children’s pediatric ward are full.
“Our emergency department is seeing 150 total patients a day, and the vast majority, [more than] 75% of them, are here for some kind of respiratory illness,” said Dr. Michael Zappa, the Cape Fear Valley Health System’s chief clinical officer.
Zappa said the hospital is seeing about 40 patients a day seeking treatment for possible RSV symptoms, which include a runny nose, a decrease in appetite, coughing, fever, sneezing and wheezing.
Zappa said the respiratory virus is hitting children the hardest, with 80% of those admitted to the hospital testing positive for RSV. He said RSV is impacting children more than adults.
“Normally, we see it as we progress further into the winter months,” Zappa said of the RSV cases he’s seen. “So, this is a surprise how early it’s coming.”
However, Zappa also said the spike in RSV cases is coming as flu season begins. He said Cape Fear Valley Medical Center doctors have treated patients with both RSV and the flu. The center also continues to treat patients with COVID.
“It’s really this ‘triple-demic’ that we may be at risk for as we move into this winter season,” Zappa said.
There is no cure for RSV, but there are steps to take to prevent the spread of it. It includes covering coughs and sneezes, washing your hands, avoid close contact and clean frequently-touched surfaces.
Zappa said if anyone is having difficulty breathing, they should go to the emergency room.
