Michigan health officials confirm a 6-year-old has died after developing complications from RSV or respiratory syncytial virus.
"We've seen about a 500% increase in positive tests in children that have been admitted for upper respiratory infections," Dr. Matthew Denenberg, chief of pediatrics at Corewell Health East in Michigan, told "Good Morning America.""Very, very few children die from RSV, and the kids that get that sick, it's usually a child that has an underlying illness," Denenberg added.
In New York, the pediatric intensive care unit at Cohen Children's Medical Center has been operating over capacity with more cases than usual. "We're giving a lot of support that often requires inhalation therapies -- sometimes steroids, sometimes breathing machines like ventilators until the virus itself works its way out," Dr. James Schneider, chief of pediatric critical care at Cohen Children's Medical Center, told "GMA."
Anita Ghiam's 3-year-old daughter Ella has been receiving treatment at Cohen Children's since Sunday for RSV and had to be placed on a ventilator.Anita Ghiam speaks to ABC News' Erielle Reshef about seeing her child in the hospital with RSV."I'm trying to keep high spirits for her," Ghiam said. "Nobody wants to see their kid in this situation."
Currently, there is no approved vaccine or specific treatment for RSV in the U.S. In Europe, the European Commission this week approved a new monoclonal antibody injection, Beyfortus, that is intended to provide partial immunity for newborns and babies up to 1 year old.
Singapore Latest News, Singapore Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Michigan boy, 6, dies of RSV amid surge straining hospitals nationwideA 6-year-old boy from Michigan has died from respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, amid a surge of infections in children across the country.
Read more »
The RSV Surge, ExplainedPhysicians are reporting high numbers of respiratory illnesses like RSV and the flu earlier than the typical winter peak. WSJ’s Brianna Abbott explains what the
Read more »
Demand for pediatric beds increases as RSV cases rise in children across the countryThe demand for pediatric beds is increasing as children have been battling respiratory infections across the country -- including in the Tri-State.
Read more »
Pfizer develops RSV vaccine for infants given during pregnancyPfizer announced an experimental vaccine that, when administered during pregnancy, would protect infants from severe illness for up to six months of life.
Read more »
University Health pediatrician answers parents questions about RSV, other virusesWhy are so many children sick right now? Dr. Mandie Tibball Svatek, University Health pediatric hospitalist and UT Health SA associate professor answers some of parents' most asked questions.
Read more »
A potential vaccine for pregnant mothers could quell the surge of serious RSV casesRSV can cause serious illness in older adults and infants and is currently wrecking havoc on the nation's children's hospitals.
Read more »