GREENSBORO, N.C. — It seems like almost everyone knows someone who's gotten sick. Local experts say it's the beginning of what's expected to be a busy respiratory illness season.
Cone Health is on high alert with a new variant of COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses surging.
Earlier this year, the state health department says our state saw 281 flu-related deaths in March, with 14 of them being children under the age of 18.
Dr. Cynthia Snider says they expect numbers to increase, especially as we head into the fall months. Flu-related deaths were at a staggering rate, and she doesn't anticipate numbers to be that high but urges families to prepare themselves.
Dr. Snider is a Cone Health Infectious Disease Specialist and says doctor's offices and urgent cares have been busy with people suffering from stuffy noses and coughs.
She says flu season is nearing though they typically see numbers increase starting in October but not for the flu, but instead for COVID. They are still seeing high numbers of COVID, especially since the resurgence of the new variant this summer.
"This summer we have seen a lot of patients hospitalized with COVID," Dr. Snider said.
Dr. Snider says with kids returning to school parents certainly want to be on high alert for stuffy noses or any cold-like symptoms in their kids. Especially since kids are most susceptible to being around others who may be sick.
Dr. Snider stresses the importance of getting vaccinated. She recommends practicing good hand washing hygiene as well as wearing a mask if you believe you are sick.
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