influenza

A medida que la temporada de gripe empieza a aparecer en el centro del país, los nuevos y diferentes mensajes sobre las vacunas procedentes de Washington están provocando dudas sobre la vacunación. Y las autoridades sanitarias de Kansas City están observando una tendencia preocupante en el número de personas que contraen la tos ferina.

As flu season settles over the Midwest, new and different vaccine messaging from Washington is spurring vaccine hesitation. And Kansas City health officials are noticing a concerning trend in the number of people contracting whooping cough.

The new strategy aims to pinpoint where bird flu exists in the U.S. and halt its spread. There have been hundreds of cases in cattle and dozens in humans.

Residents can book appointments to get updated COVID booster shots at local CVS and Walgreens pharmacies. However, the city's health department says it could be weeks before vaccines are delivered to its clinics.

The trio of COVID-19, influenza and RSV make this holiday season especially tricky to plan for. What can you do to prepare if you plan to travel or be around large groups of people?

COVID-19, RSV and the flu cases are filling up emergency rooms in the metropolitan area. Many area hospitals are at capacity, with some even putting beds in the hallways. All of this is overwhelming nurses already stretched thin.

Influenza cases continue to rise even as RSV and COVID-19 case numbers are plateauing across the Kansas City area. Children's Mercy staffers are picking up extra shifts as they treat more patients than the hospital can handle.

In a typical year, RSV is prominent from mid-November through April. But this year, health officials have seen higher than usual case numbers since mid-summer.

Children’s Mercy doctors say declining COVID-19 cases in children means trick-or-treating is OK this year. But if kids and adults don’t get a flu shot, Kansas City could be in for a rough flu season.

Parts of the U.S., including Kansas and Missouri, are seeing an unusual summertime uptick in respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV.

Far from waning, coronavirus has fed off of people’s impatience with social distancing. ICUs are filling up. Flu shots could help save beds for COVID-19 patients.

Doctors and administrators are facing an incredible amount of uncertainty right now as current conditions at a hospital could change quickly.