Maryland hospitals see increase in COVID-19, RSV, flu cases – WBAL TV Baltimore

Hospitals across Maryland are seeing an increase in patients with respiratory illnesses.Doctors said cases of the flu, COVID-19 and RSV are spiking."Influenza is really increasing, particularly over the last two weeks," Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health virologist Dr. Andy Pekosz said."All of them, you'll often feel very lousy. You'll feel achy, you have a cough, you may have a headache, you might have a scratchy throat. So, they're all very similar in that way," LifeBridge Health Dr. Miriam Alexander said. VACCINE INFO: You can get COVID-19 and flu vaccines at the same time, but should you? Here's what the science says.If you experience any of those symptoms, Alexander said the first step is to figure out what is causing your illness. There are tests for each of the three major viruses as well as antiviral medication to treat the flu and COVID-19."The most urgent thing that people with severe viral infections need is what we call supportive care, which might be oxygen (or) IV fluids, because in general, the antivirals are not magic pills," Alexander said.She said the best ways to prevent getting sick are wearing a mask, washing your hands and getting vaccinated.COVID-19 and flu vaccines are widely available. RSV vaccines are available for pregnant women and people over 60 years old.For kids under two years old, there is a shortage of vaccines.SHORTAGE: An ongoing shortage of the vaccine for respiratory syncytial virus means babies still getting sick. Here's what to do."The Centers for Disease and Control and Prevention has tried to put out guidelines to make sure the high-priority groups are the ones targeted to get this, so check with your pediatrician, check with your local pharmacist," Pekosz said.Experts said there are still a few months of the winter virus season to come before things start to ease.Pekosz said if you feel sick, stay home."With both COVID-19, flu and RSV, you can shed the virus and transmit it when you're showing very mild symptoms," he said.Doctors said it's not too late to get vaccinated, but it does take about two weeks for a vaccine to take effect.More videos on RSV:

Hospitals across Maryland are seeing an increase in patients with respiratory illnesses.

Doctors said cases of the flu, COVID-19 and RSV are spiking.

"Influenza is really increasing, particularly over the last two weeks," Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health virologist Dr. Andy Pekosz said.

"All of them, you'll often feel very lousy. You'll feel achy, you have a cough, you may have a headache, you might have a scratchy throat. So, they're all very similar in that way," LifeBridge Health Dr. Miriam Alexander said.

If you experience any of those symptoms, Alexander said the first step is to figure out what is causing your illness. There are tests for each of the three major viruses as well as antiviral medication to treat the flu and COVID-19.

"The most urgent thing that people with severe viral infections need is what we call supportive care, which might be oxygen (or) IV fluids, because in general, the antivirals are not magic pills," Alexander said.

She said the best ways to prevent getting sick are wearing a mask, washing your hands and getting vaccinated.

COVID-19 and flu vaccines are widely available. RSV vaccines are available for pregnant women and people over 60 years old.

For kids under two years old, there is a shortage of vaccines.

"The Centers for Disease and Control and Prevention has tried to put out guidelines to make sure the high-priority groups are the ones targeted to get this, so check with your pediatrician, check with your local pharmacist," Pekosz said.

Experts said there are still a few months of the winter virus season to come before things start to ease.

Pekosz said if you feel sick, stay home.

"With both COVID-19, flu and RSV, you can shed the virus and transmit it when you're showing very mild symptoms," he said.

Doctors said it's not too late to get vaccinated, but it does take about two weeks for a vaccine to take effect.

More videos on RSV:

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Maryland hospitals see increase in COVID-19, RSV, flu cases - WBAL TV Baltimore