State of emergency declared in Orange County following new respiratory virus

Orange County hospitals have filled to the brim as a result of a respiratory syncytial virus and officials were quick to declare it a health emergency across the county. Photo by EMILY PARIS, photo editor

Residents in Orange County and other areas around the country  are currently experiencing a large increase in hospitalizations due to respiratory illnesses. 

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common, highly contagious virus that infects the respiratory tract. This virus mainly affects people with compromised immune systems such as children and older adults.

However, hospitals across the county, specifically the Children’s Health of Orange County (CHOC) has seen a large increase in hospitalizations, which have resulted in capacity issues.

On Monday, the California Department of Public Health reported the season’s first death of a child under 5 due RSV. 

In response to the high number of cases in Orange County, the OC Health Care Agency sent out a statement Oct. 29 cautioning to take measures against respiratory syncytial virus in order to prevent it from spreading any further.

“Respiratory syncytial virus infections occur primarily during the fall and winter cold and flu season, causing bronchiolitis and pneumonia in children under one year of age and placing infants, young children and older adults, with chronic medical conditions, at risk for more severe diseases,” the statement read.

According to the statement, the recommended prevention actions are similar to preventing the flu or cold. Cautions such as avoiding contact with people that are sick, washing your hands often, covering coughs and sneezes and staying home when experiencing any symptoms of illness should be taken to help avoid spreading the virus.

At the same time, experts are advising about a potential winter surge of COVID-19.

Jerick Lam is an associate professor of pharmacy practice with a focus on infectious diseases at Chapman University and has been teaching at the university since 2014. 

“For this winter season, we are facing the ‘tripledemic’ of COVID-19, influenza and RSV infections,” Lam said. “Based on the increasing hospitalization rates of children for RSV infections, it will get worse until next year.”