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ERIE, Pa. (Erie News Now) – As people travel this week, cases of respiratory illnesses are already on the rise and will likely climb higher.
Nationwide, flu cases are at a 10-year high, with especially high rates in several Southern and Western states.
RSV cases are critically high as well, with several hospitals scrambling to add pediatric ICU beds amid the onslaught of cases.
Local doctors said not only are those common viruses more prevalent this year, they’ve also often accompanied by COVID-19, making treatment more complicated.
“Right now what we’ve been seeing is COVID with Influenza, or COVID with RSV,” said Dr. Micalyn Baney, LECOM Health. “So as if COVID isn’t bad enough now we have these super infections with the other things that are going on right now.”
Because respiratory illness can be fatal, especially for infants and the elderly, doctors recommend taking a COVID-19 test before traveling and stay home if you feel sick.
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