The Perfect Enemy | Health officials urge Marylanders to get ‘flooster’ shots to battle COVID-19, flu, RSV

Health officials urge Marylanders to get ‘flooster’ shots to battle COVID-19, flu, RSV

Health officials in Maryland are monitoring a surge in early flu and respiratory illnesses.Flu usually hits Maryland around December, health experts said, but this year, it hit before Halloween — and at the same time as COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus infection.| MORE INFORMATION: Respiratory syncytial virus infection (RSV)State health officials said the illnesses are severe, hospital beds are scarce and there are not enough people getting their shots to make it stop.”It’s overwhelming. I think that that’s probably the best way to describe it,” said Dr. Monique Soileau-Burke, a physician at The Pediatric Center in Columbia and president of the Maryland chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics. “We’ve had significant increases in flu rates, RSV rates and COVID.”| RELATED: Health officials warn of increase in RSV infections in childrenMollie, who is 13 months old, got her flu shot Wednesday, much to the relief of her mother, Rebecca Taneyhill, who’s worried about the triple threat of COVID-19, flu and RSV.”I work with the public. My husband works at school, as well as my mother-in-law. So, we just have to be very careful,” Taneyhill said.Experts said illness hit early across Maryland, cases are severe and emergency rooms are running out of beds. State health officials said they’re so concerned that they made up a new word, “flooster,” and they hope it’ll catch on.| RELATED: Surge in respiratory viruses in children overwhelming some hospitalsThe Maryland Hospital Association said it’s seeing a record number of patients overflowing emergency departments and pediatric intensive care units across the state.The Pediatric Center has 15 positive flu cases just Wednesday morning. On a recent afternoon, Soileau-Burke said, “I saw two children with flu, two with COVID, strep, RSV, and a child that had hand-foot-and-mouth all on the same afternoon.”Soileau-Burke said, for her patients, the shortage of hospital beds means children are bunking in the ER for days.Health experts said the best way to stay healthy is to get both COVID-19 and flu shots at the same time and get them as early as possible. Also, wash your hands.Video below: What’s the cause in spike of RSV cases across country?

COLUMBIA, Md. —

Health officials in Maryland are monitoring a surge in early flu and respiratory illnesses.

Flu usually hits Maryland around December, health experts said, but this year, it hit before Halloween — and at the same time as COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus infection.

| MORE INFORMATION: Respiratory syncytial virus infection (RSV)

State health officials said the illnesses are severe, hospital beds are scarce and there are not enough people getting their shots to make it stop.

“It’s overwhelming. I think that that’s probably the best way to describe it,” said Dr. Monique Soileau-Burke, a physician at The Pediatric Center in Columbia and president of the Maryland chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics. “We’ve had significant increases in flu rates, RSV rates and COVID.”

Mollie, who is 13 months old, got her flu shot Wednesday, much to the relief of her mother, Rebecca Taneyhill, who’s worried about the triple threat of COVID-19, flu and RSV.

“I work with the public. My husband works at school, as well as my mother-in-law. So, we just have to be very careful,” Taneyhill said.

Experts said illness hit early across Maryland, cases are severe and emergency rooms are running out of beds. State health officials said they’re so concerned that they made up a new word, “flooster,” and they hope it’ll catch on.

The Maryland Hospital Association said it’s seeing a record number of patients overflowing emergency departments and pediatric intensive care units across the state.

The Pediatric Center has 15 positive flu cases just Wednesday morning. On a recent afternoon, Soileau-Burke said, “I saw two children with flu, two with COVID, strep, RSV, and a child that had hand-foot-and-mouth all on the same afternoon.”

Soileau-Burke said, for her patients, the shortage of hospital beds means children are bunking in the ER for days.

Health experts said the best way to stay healthy is to get both COVID-19 and flu shots at the same time and get them as early as possible. Also, wash your hands.

Video below: What’s the cause in spike of RSV cases across country?