Another jump in the numbers of COVID patients at The University of Kansas Health System today. 27 with the active virus are being treated, up from 21 yesterday. Seven of those patients are in the ICU, the same as yesterday. Four are on ventilators, the same as yesterday. 14 other patients are still hospitalized because of COVID but are out of the acute infection phase, down from 15 yesterday. That’s a total of 41 patients, up from 36 yesterday. Doctors noted it’s been 40 days since the health system’s numbers have been this high. HaysMed has15 active and 12 recovering COVID patients, the same as yesterday. Those numbers are very high as well and the doctors think we’re seeing another COVID wave coming across western Kansas and headed our way.
On today’s Morning Medical Update, it's been 40 years since we first learned about another virus spreading across the world, HIV and AIDS. Much has changed in that time. Infectious Disease physicians Lisa Clough, MD and Matt Shoemaker, MD, joined Dana Hawkinson, MD, medical director of Infection Prevention and Control and Steve Stites, MD, chief medical officer, to look at how far we’ve come as we prepare to observe World AIDS Day 2021.
Before discussing today’s topic, doctors noted that when it comes to getting a COVID booster, it’s best to get one from Pfizer or Moderna, even if you originally got the J&J single dose vaccine. They also addressed reports that antibody treatments from Regeneron and Eli Lilly may not be as effective against the omicron variant. They say we need more data and it’s too soon to say for certain.
All of the doctors say COVID has impacted HIV patients in our area. Many skipped appointments, worried they’d be exposed to COVID, which would affect them more with their compromised immune systems. Some have been able to use telemedicine while others have realized that it’s safe to come to the doctor’s office, especially for lab work. The doctors pointed out that 40 years ago, the average life expectancy for an HIV patient was two years and the mortality rate was 80 percent. Now, thanks to advances in medicine, most of these patients live long enough to die of old age. They also remember how little we knew back then, and many HIV patients could not find a doctor willing to take the risk to treat them. They say that it’s similar with COVID, as we know a lot more nearly two years into the pandemic than we did at the beginning. To put it into perspective however, they noted there have been 700,000 deaths from HIV in 40 years, while in less than two years of COVID, we’ve seen 780,000 deaths. They also want to reassure many with HIV worried about the COVID vaccine that it is safe and does not affect their HIV treatment. They remind us that just like COVID, HIV is a preventable disease. They advise, especially during this holiday season, we work together, look out for each other, trust the science, and get vaccinated.
Wednesday, December 1 at 8:00 a.m. is the next Morning Medical Update. We know how tough and expensive it can be to get high quality medical care in rural areas. We’ll show you how The University of Kansas Health System makes it possible to get those services to folks living in smaller communities.
NOTE: Journalists should rejoin the Morning Medical Update at 8am as doctors are growing too busy again for individual interview requests. Please bring questions or send to medicalnewsnetwork@kumc.edu until further notice. Thanks for all you do and helping to keep the community safe with your reporting.
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