22-02-2025
Influenza cases rise, Des Moines hospitals re-mask
DES MOINES, Iowa — Influenza cases across the country continue to rise at staggering numbers, and several Des Moines hospitals are re-masking in response.
'We have noticed in the pediatric side that our volumes peaked in the early part of February. We were seeing one and a half to two times the normal number of children in a 24-hour period,' said Dr. Wendy Woods, the Chief Medical Officer at UnityPoint in Des Moines. 'Our adult ER has also seen an increase in number of cases with influenza, an increased volume to the emergency rooms.'
Influenza is impacting everyone; the latest CDC report has Iowa seeing very high activity along with a majority of the country. A Polk County report says at this time last year 29 patients tested positive for influenza, while 164 patients tested positive this year.
'There is a very high influenza activity level in the community. It is recommended that you need to be protecting yourself and protecting your patients,' said Dr. Aneesa Afroze, a infectious disease specialist at MercyOne in Des Moines.
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While Influenza spread within the community it of concern, Dr. Afroze says the hospital is where is poses the biggest risks.
'Considering the complexity of the patients in our hospital and also immune compromised patients, we have a whole floor of cancer patients in our hospital. We do not want to spread influenza in the hospital itself.'
In response Des Moines' UnityPoint, Mercy One, and Broadlawns hospitals are asking healthcare providers to mask up once more.
The main goal is to prevent Influenza spreading, especially to patients susceptible to a respiratory illness. UnityPoint says visitors at the hospital have been good at re-masking.
'What I've personally seen in my practice is many of our families are already masking because they themselves are sick and they're worried about spreading it to other patients in the hospital or the to the staff,' said Dr. Woods.
Currently no hospitals are requiring patients and visitors to wear masks, but health professionals warn that if Influenza numbers continue on their abnormal path, masks requirements will be enforced.
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