RSV and Influenza Update for 2019-2020 Season

01/08/20 By Safetec

The 2019-2020 flu season in the United States has been off to a fast and hard-hitting start with 6.4 million cases of Influenza already and 2,900 deaths from influenza. This season has been particularly strange since the dominant strain is Influenza B this season. Influenza B usually does not create large outbreaks like this is doing so it is very different from what anyone could’ve anticipated. 

Not only has this season started out quickly and is hitting hard early, but it is also showing no sign of slowing down. Experts say that it appears as if this season is going to continue to be a very bad one, possibly surpassing the 2017-18 season totals which had very high numbers. In 2017-18, there were a total of 900,000 hospitalizations and 80,000 deaths. Not only is Influenza B causing oddly large outbreaks across the United States, the experts are also seeing a quick rise recently in cases of H1N1 flu viruses which could cause a double impact flu season, possibly making the totals worse than the 2017-18 season.  

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is another virus which is making a much larger impact this year than it often does. RSV typically begins with the same symptoms as the common cold; low grade fever, headache, chills, and runny nose, and will often progress in more severe cases to difficulty breathing, rapid breathing, wheezing, and a high-grade fever. If your child is experiencing any of these symptoms, they should be taken to the hospital immediately. RSV is also typically only seen to impact infants, young children, and older adults with severe symptoms and most people in between often only ever experience mild symptoms and do not require hospitalization.  

Here in Buffalo, NY at Oishei Children’s Hospital, they are seeing a very high number of cases in infants and young children. At this point in the season, the hospital has typically admitted 60-70 children with RSV, this year, however, they have already admitted over 200 children with RSV, three times as many as usual.  

With both Influenza and RSV having much higher impact rates than typical years, it is more important than ever this season to use proper hand hygiene. Experts in infectious disease are saying that it is more important than ever to wash your hands properly for at least 20 seconds with soap and water. Safetec’s SaniWash is a great antimicrobial hand soap which will help when washing your hands to prevent getting sick yourself or getting other people sick. The experts also say that if washing your hands with soap and water is not available that an alcohol-based hand sanitizer would work great. Safetec’s Fresh Scent or Citrus Scent Instant Hand Sanitizer works great to kill 99.9% of widespread germs and will work perfectly as an alternative to washing your hand with soap and water.   

Safetec’s new surface disinfectant, SaniZide Pro 1 is a broad spectrum, EPA Registered surface disinfectant that can kill the RSV, Influenza A and Influenza B virus in one minute with its ready-to-use, alcohol-based hospital-grade formula. For a full list of efficacy claims, visit this page.

Be prepared for the remainder of the Flu and RSV season with Safetec products on your side. Contact us today to apply to become a new distributor.

References
https://www.bizjournals.com/buffalo/news/2019/12/30/oishei-childrens-hospital-sees-high-volume-of-rsv.html
https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/medical/doctors-explain-why-this-flu-season-might-be-the-worst-in-a-decade/ar-BBYFuze