As the holiday season continues, respiratory illnesses are on the rise across New York, with officials from the city's health department and hospitals in the Tri-State area raising concerns about the increasing cases of RSV, flu, and COVID. The New York City health department has reported nearly 5,000 cases of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) for the week ending December 14, a significant increase since the start of November, Gothamist reports. RSV primarily causes mild, cold-like symptoms; however, it poses a high risk to infants and older adults.
In response to the surge in respiratory infections, New York State has declared the flu widespread and is requiring healthcare workers to wear masks. Additionally, RWJ Barnabas Health in New Jersey has recommended its staff wear masks, reflecting heightened precautions to prevent the spread of these illnesses, according to a report by ABC7NY. RSV, in particular, spreads through droplets from infected individuals who sneeze or cough and can remain contagious on surfaces for several hours.
Dr. Sharon Nachman of Stony Brook Children's Hospital highlighted the worryingly low flu vaccination rates, particularly among daycare and kindergarten children, which she noted as a major concern. "Those kids, as we know from other studies, are the ones who bring flu home to the rest of the family," Dr. Nachman told ABC7NY. In fact, Nassau and Suffolk counties are seeing flu vaccination rates below 22%, compared to a national average of over 38%.
While New Yorkers are encouraged to mitigate transmission of RSV by staying home when sick, wearing masks, and practicing hand hygiene, vaccination remains a cornerstone in managing these spikes. Despite the absence of a universal RSV vaccine for school-aged children, an injectable antibody is available for infants, which can prevent immediate infection and subsequently, serious illness. According to a Gothamist interview, there are also RSV vaccines available for adults over 60, pregnant people, infants, and some children to help protect against the virus.
With the holiday travel season approaching and families gathering, the risk of these viruses spreading intensifies. Hospitals and health officials continue to urge the public to take appropriate precautions - a sentiment captured when Dr. Marc Lashley of Allied Physicians Group on Long Island expressed his concern, "It's really probably 80% of the sick visits we're seeing right now," discussing RSV cases, as reported by ABC7NY.
