The Women & Children's Hospital of Buffalo is in overflow mode, after a spike in RSV (Respiratory-Syncytial-Virus) cases.
Doctors and nurses are even coming in on their days off to help with the crowd of young children suffering from the respiratory virus. Since December, the hospital has seen a 200-percent increase in cases. 45-Percent of the Children are kept in isolation, because this virus can spread rapidly.
"Today we had every bed full and every overflow bed full, so we are about 36 patients over what we usually see," Chief Medical Officer of Women & Children's Hospital, Dr. Stephen Turkovich said.
RSV is the most common reason for infants under one year of age to be hospitalized. There are different strains of the virus. Common symptoms are runny or stuffy nose, sore throat, fever, mild cough, blue lips, blue finger tips, breathing fast, drinking and eating less, and sleepy.
The virus can cause lung failure and even be deadly. Doctors say ways to avoid it is by keeping young children out of places with big crowds, like grocery stores. The virus can remain on surfaces like shopping carts for up to six days. Doctors say the most important thing you can do is make sure everybody wash their hands.
