BIABE: DOCTORS WITH NEBRASKA MEDICINE TELL ME THAT THE HOSPITALS WILL BE TOO OVERWHELMED, IF THE FLU SPREADS THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITY TS FALL AND WINTER. NOW, THEY’RE ENCOURAGING YOU TO GET THAT SHOT, TOO. LAST WINTER, COVID-19 TOOK OVER HOSPITALS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY. INCLUDING RIGHT HERE IN DOUGLAS COUNTY. BUT WHEN IT CAME TO THE FLU, IT WAS A DIFFERENT STORY. >> LAST YEAR, THE FLU SEASON WAS NON-EXISTANT. SO WE SAW VERY VERY FEW CASES OF INFLUENZA. ABBIE: DR. MARK RUPP, WITH NEBRASKA MEDICINE, SAYS THERE COULD BE MULTIPLE REASONS FOR THIS, LIKE THE FACT THAT A LOT OF US WERE TAKING MORE PRECAUTIONS TOIG FHT COVID-19. >> BUT, YOU KNOW, EACLRLY, WITH ONE VIRUS SORT OF OUT COMPETGIN ALL THE OTHER VIRUSES, THAT MAY HAVE ALSO CROWDED INFLUENZA JUST KIND OF OUT OF THE PICTU.RE ABBIE: BUT WHEN IT COMES TO HOW BAD IT WILL GET THIS YEAR, HE SAYS IT’S ANYBODY’S GUS.ES >> I THINK THE BIG QUESTION ,IS WHAT’S GOING TO HAPPEN TH YEARIS — AND WE REALLY DON’T KNOW AGAIN. ABBIE: WHAT HE DOES KNOW IS THAT IF THINGS GET BAD, THE HOSPITALS CAN’TAT KE IT. BECAUSE MOST ARE ALREADY FULL ESEPECIALY WITH STAFFING ISSUES. >> WE’RE ALREADY BEING STRESSED NOW WITH COVID-19, THE LAST THING WE NEED IS ANOTHER RESPIRATORY VIRUS TO COME IN AND MAKE PEOPLE SICK IN D ANBRING THEM INTO THE HOSPITAL. ABBIE: NOW, HE WANTS YOU TO DO YOUR PART BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE. SO HE’S URNGGI PEOPLE TO GET THE FLU VACCINE AND WEAR THOSE MASKS AND WASH YOUR HANDS, AND HOPEFULLY THINGS WILL BE OK. >> SO, YOU KNOW, EVERY, EVERY ADDITIONAL STRESSOR THATE HAVE OBVIOUSLY WEAKENS THE HOSPITAL SYSTEM THE HEALTHCARE SYST.EM IT’S THE LAST THING WE EDNE RIGHT NOW. ABE:BI DR. RUPP TELLS ME THAT HE DOESN’T BELIEVE WEARING A MASK OR TAKING ANY OFHE T OTHER SAFETY PERCAUTIONS WILL MAKE YOU MORE SUCCEPTIBLE TO VIRUS
‘The last thing we need’: Nebraska Medicine doctor concerned of potentially bad flu season
“Now we’re already being stressed now with COVID-19, the last thing we need is another respiratory virus to come in and make people sick in and bring them into the hospital,” said Dr. Mark Rupp with Nebraska Medicine.
Last winter, COVID-19 took over hospitals all around the country, including right here in Douglas County, but when it came to the flu it was a different story. “Last year the flu season was non-existent. So we saw very very few cases of influenza,” Dr. Mark Rupp said.Rupp with Nebraska Medicine says there could be multiple reasons for this, like the fact that a lot of us were taking more precautions to fight COVID-19. “But, you know, clearly with one virus sort of out-competing all the other viruses that may have also crowded influenza just kind of out of the picture,” Rupp said.When it comes to how bad it will get this year, he says it’s anybody’s guess. “I think the big question is what’s going to happen this year is that we really don’t know again,” Rupp said.What he does know, is that if things get bad the hospitals can’t take it, because most are already full, especially with staffing issues. “Now we’re already being stressed now with COVID-19, the last thing we need is another respiratory virus to come in and make people sick in and bring them into the hospital,” Rupp said.Now he wants you to do your part before it is too late, so he’s urging people to get the flu vaccine and wear those masks and wash your hands and hopefully things will be OK. “So, you know, every, every additional stressor that we have, obviously, weakens the hospital system the health care system. It’s the last thing right now,” Rupp said.
Last winter, COVID-19 took over hospitals all around the country, including right here in Douglas County, but when it came to the flu it was a different story.
“Last year the flu season was non-existent. So we saw very very few cases of influenza,” Dr. Mark Rupp said.
Rupp with Nebraska Medicine says there could be multiple reasons for this, like the fact that a lot of us were taking more precautions to fight COVID-19.
“But, you know, clearly with one virus sort of out-competing all the other viruses that may have also crowded influenza just kind of out of the picture,” Rupp said.
When it comes to how bad it will get this year, he says it’s anybody’s guess.
“I think the big question is what’s going to happen this year is that we really don’t know again,” Rupp said.
What he does know, is that if things get bad the hospitals can’t take it, because most are already full, especially with staffing issues.
“Now we’re already being stressed now with COVID-19, the last thing we need is another respiratory virus to come in and make people sick in and bring them into the hospital,” Rupp said.
Now he wants you to do your part before it is too late, so he’s urging people to get the flu vaccine and wear those masks and wash your hands and hopefully things will be OK.
“So, you know, every, every additional stressor that we have, obviously, weakens the hospital system the health care system. It’s the last thing right now,” Rupp said.
https://www.ketv.com/article/the-last-thing-we-need-nebraska-medicine-doctor-concerned-of-potentially-bad-flu-season/37518424
