Hospitalizations due to an array of respiratory illnesses, including COVID-19, influenza, and the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), have experienced a noticeable surge in Fort Collins, Colorado. As a response to this trend, local healthcare facilities, such as UCHealth and Banner Health, have imposed seasonal restrictions on visitors in an attempt to control disease transmission.
Primarily, these rules stipulate limitations on visits by the youth and suggest that unwell individuals refrain from visiting hospitals. As of the start of the week, UCHealth’s Northern Colorado hospitals were providing treatment for 19 COVID-19 patients, according to Kelly Tracer, the UCHealth spokesperson. COVID-19 continues to be the predominant disease being dealt with this season. However, cases of flu and RSV have shown an increase over the past fortnight, Tracer notes.
Dr. Michelle Barron, the senior medical director of infection prevention and control for UCHealth, warned that ‘We are officially in respiratory virus season.’ The signs and symptoms of these diseases range from those similar to a common cold to severe illnesses. With the respiratory virus season upon us, Dr. Barron urged Colorado’s populace to take appropriate precautionary measures to protect themselves and others.
This story was originally covered by the Fort Collins Coloradoan. The surge in infections has coincided with a shortage of pediatric RSV prevention drugs, as well as an increasing prevalence of a highly contagious and lethal respiratory disease in dogs. Despite a record decline in Colorado’s uninsured population, there is a caveat to consider.
Source: https://www.9news.com/article/news/health/hospitals-northern-colorado-respiratory-illness/73-24f24c4c-e1c8-482e-8d56-7e208081085b