‘Quad-Demic’ Impacts Brooklyn Park Health Clinic
A Brooklyn Park doctor said emergency rooms are booked up right now with long wait times. That’s largely because of what some are calling a “quad-demic”– four different illnesses spiking at the same time.
RSV and coronavirus numbers are at their typical surge rates for the indoor season, while influenza is even higher. Norovirus, which appears as a stomach bug, is also high.
“The rates of outbreaks and cases are almost double what they are in a typical year at this time,” said Dr. Erik Anderson, a physician at Hennepin Healthcare in Brooklyn Park. “They’re pretty high for norovirus.”
Dr. Anderson said overall, a rise in infections at this time of year is common. The norovirus rise, he said, could be attributed to the evolution of the virus.
To protect yourself and others, Anderson recommends being aware of who is sick. If you personally feel sick, he recommends staying home.
Norovirus prevention requires some extra attention, as using hand sanitizer doesn’t quite cut it.
“If you have someone in the family who has a stomach bug, washing hands with soap and water is really the best, and only, way to really decrease that risk of contagiousness,” Anderson said.
Anderson also recommends wearing a mask in public this season as respiratory illnesses spike. Plus, he said it isn’t too late to get your flu and COVID vaccine this season.
The Minnesota Department of Health’s weekly influenza and respiratory illness activity report is available on its website. COVID-19 data is also available on the MDH website.
Patients are coming into the Brooklyn Park Hennepin Health Care clinic with a variety of illnesses this season.
