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RSV and flu cases are soaring in Arizona. Here's how to help kids stay healthy

Cases of RSV continue to climb in Arizona.

The Arizona Department of Health Services reported more than 1,300 cases last week alone. That’s dramatically higher than is usually expected for this time of year.

RSV is a respiratory virus that causes cold-like symptoms, and while most who get it recover relatively quickly, it can be very serious in young children and older adults. In fact, the virus is the most common cause of pneumonia and bronchiolitis in infants.

To explain why we’re seeing such a surge in cases, The Show spoke with Dr. Reina Patel, a pediatric hospitalist at Phoenix Children’s Hospital.

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Lauren Gilger, host of KJZZ's The Show, is an award-winning journalist whose work has impacted communities large and small, exposing injustices and giving a voice to the voiceless and marginalized.