'Never seen anything like this before': Summertime virus baffles docs, targets children
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Updated: 3:44 PM PDT Jul 9, 2021
By LINDSEY TANNER, Associated Press
'Never seen anything like this before': Summertime virus baffles docs, targets children
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Updated: 3:44 PM PDT Jul 9, 2021
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HERE IN OMAHA CONCERNED. ROB: AS KETV NEWSWATCH 7’S KATHERINE GARCIA REPORTS, FAMILIES SHOULD KEEP A CLOSE EYE OUT FOR THE GNS.SI KATHERINE: THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC KEPT MANY OF US AT HOME AND IF WE DID GO OUT, OUR MASKS CEROVED COUGHS AND SNEEZES. BUT DOCTORS SAY AS THE MASKS COME OFF, VIRUSES LIKE RSV ARE COMING OUT. THE WINTER MONTHS ARE TYPICALLY KNOWN AS RSV SEASON, WHEN THE COLD-LIKE ILLNESS TAKES OFF AROUND THE COUNTRY, BUT UNMC INFECTIOUS DISEASE EXRTPE DR. BRADFORD BECKEN SAYS CASES OF THE VIRUS AND OTHER ILLNESSES ARE CLIMBING THIS SUMMER. >> AS RESTRICTIONS HAVE BEEN LOOSENED, WE’RE STARTING TO SEE VIRUSEINS A MUCH LATER PATTERN THAN WE NORMALLY SEE. KATHERIN EACH YEAR, THE CDC REPORTS 100-500 DEATHS IN THE U.S. AMONG CHILDREN YOUNGER THAN 5-YEARS-OLD DUE TO RSV. BUT PEDIATRICIAN DR. HAYLEY TIMM SAYS IN 2020, CASES PLUMMETED. >> WE JUST REALLY DIDN’T SEE THAT PEAK LAST YEAR. BEING AWARE ATTH MASK WEARING WAS EFFECTIVE FOR PREVENTING A A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS. KATHERINE: TIMM SAYS THE VIRUS COULD MANIFEST DIFFERENTLY DEPENDING ON A CHILD’S AGE AND BABIES ARE ESPECIALLY VULNERABLE. >> WHAT YOU MIGHT SEE COULD BE RUNNY NOSE, COUGH, CONGESTION PROGRESSING TO DIFFICUYLT BREATHING, WHERE YOU MIGHT SEE THERE CHEST MOVING QUICKLY. -- THEIR CHEST MOVING QUICKLY. KATHERINE: RIGHT N, OWDR. BECKEN IS ESPECIALLY CAREFUL WITH HIS OWN KIDS. >> IF YOU’RE PICKING UP A CHILD AT DAYCARE AND YOU GRAB ETH DOORKNOB, OR YOU GO IN THE CL ASSROOM, HOW WE LET CHILDREN WITH THEIR HANDS, YOU COULD EASILY AUTO-INNOCULATE BY OPENING THE DOOR AND TOUCHING YOUR OWN NOSE OR YOUR MOUTH. KATHERINE: BECKEN ADDS, GOING WITHOUT A MASK IN PUBLIC CAN BE JUST AS RISKY BASEING AT HOME TO CATCH RSV. >> I’VE CERTAINLY SEEN CLUSTERS WITH COVID-19 BEFORE TSHI CURRENT OUTBREAK OF RSV THAT WE’RE SEEING, WHERE ONE PERSON IN THE HOUSE GOT SICK, EVERYBODY IN T HHEOUSE GOT SICK, BECAUSE IT’S HARDER TO SOCIALLY DISTANCE WITHIN THE SAME HOME. KATHERINE: DOCTORS SAY IT’S BEST TO ASK FAMILY MEMBERS OR FRIENDS TO WEAR A MASK AROUND YOUR YOUNGER KIDS TO PROTECT THEM FROM RESPIRATORY ILLNESSES ESPECIAL IF LYTHEY ARE UNVACCINATED AGAINST COVID