An influx of flu and Respiratory Syncytial virus, or RSV, cases in children is causing UNC Hospitals in Chapel Hill to open up more beds.

A release from UNC Health on Thursday said the main hospital building recently created a “Pediatric Surge Unit” on its sixth floor in order to provide more care space for children suffering from the common respiratory illnesses. Six more beds became available thanks to the unit on Wednesday, with the aim of providing some relief to UNC Children’s Hospital, which is at capacity from flu and RSV cases to young patients.

Across both North Carolina and the United States, the flu and RSV has surged more than normal during the early winter months — especially among children. According to the state Department of Health and Human Services’ latest weekly report, more than 9,000 North Carolinians have returned positive flu tests since October 8, with 23 total flu-related deaths reported as well. One of those deaths was a pediatric patient. Meanwhile, the state department reports more than 800 new RSV cases in North Carolina last week, with more than 1,000 tallied in the first week of November.

Locally, UNC Health reported 430 total flu cases and 185 total RSV cases at the Chapel Hill hospital campus last week.

“The Pediatric ICU in Chapel Hill remains very busy, and is often full,” said Alan Wolf, the director of news for the UNC Health system. “Our UNC Children’s clinical team continues to work tirelessly to make sure kids who need critical care can get it.”

Wolf said this is the first time such an expansion has been necessary for pediatric cases. While the Pediatric Surge Unit opened at six beds this week, UNC Hospitals may add more as necessary. Current projections of this surge in flu and RSV cases lead the hospital to estimate that expansion unit to be on operation around six weeks, according to Wolf.

Community members can visit UNC Health’s website for more resources and frequently asked questions about RSV and the flu.

Photo via UNC Children’s Hospital/UNC Health.

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