People across Ventura County are getting sick with flu, RSV and COVID in a triple threat that public health officials say isn't as potent as it was a year ago but is still filling emergency rooms.
The three viruses teamed up for a flurry of infections in late 2022, creating anxiety about hospital capacity. This year, hospital visits have risen in the county but remain within expected levels for January when respiratory illnesses traditionally ramp up, officials said.
"The hospital is busy, but we have increased our staffing for physicians, nurses and other key departments," said Dr. Nicole Schneider, medical officer for Adventist Health's Simi Valley hospital.
In emergency rooms, doctors said they’re seeing a rise in flu with RSV and COVID also surfacing daily. They said symptoms are usually mild to moderate and often don’t require hospitalization.
All three illnesses can cause fever, coughing and shortness of breath. Testing to determine which illness is at work is important because treatment is different for each virus, said Dr. Jim Hornstein, a Ventura family physician.
In Hornstein's practice, flu seems to be packing the nastiest punch. Symptoms may include a fever of up to 103 degrees, chills and a cough.
“It looks like most of the people ran head-first into a brick wall,” he said. “They’re very sick.”
Respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, is most serious in infants and older adults but is emerging more in other age groups. People can be diagnosed with more than one of the viruses simultaneously.
Hospitalizations for COVID across the county remain low, according to calculations by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Admissions in neighboring Los Angeles County have risen a notch to medium. Public health officials there have ordered workers in hospitals, nursing homes and other health care facilities to wear masks when caring for patients.
Levin said it’s unlikely a similar order is coming in Ventura County even if COVID admissions rise. He noted state and federal agencies have already offered guidelines for health care facilities.
Doctors urge people to get vaccinations for flu and updated shots for COVID-19. RSV vaccinations are recommended for babies and pregnant women. CDC officials said people 60 and older should ask their doctors about RSV shots.
Many doctors also recommend masks in crowded indoor sites, frequent hand-washing and coughing into your elbow.
“Take care of yourself,” said Dr. Neil Canby, an emergency room doctor at Community Memorial Hospital in Ventura. “If you’re feeling sick, stay home and away from others.”
Hornstein said people should realize they're vulnerable to all three illnesses.
"They are all in the community," he said. "They are all getting people sick."
Tom Kisken covers health care and other news for the Ventura County Star. Reach him at [email protected] or 805-437-0255.
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