"DIRECT CONNECTION" IS MADE BY MPT TO SERVE ALL OF OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITIES AND IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF OUR MEMBERS.
THANK YOU.
LIVE FROM MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION, THIS IS "DIRECT CONNECTION" WITH JEFF SALKIN.
>> Jeff: GOOD EVENING.
WELCOME TO YOUR "DIRECT CONNECTION."
COMING UP TONIGHT, HOW MARYLAND HOSPITALS ARE DEALING WITH THE RSV OUTBREAK.
BUT WE BEGIN TONIGHT WITH POST-ELECTION ANALYSIS.
JOINING US IS MILEAH KROMER OF GOUCHER COLLEGE, AUTHOR OF THE VERY SOON-TO-BE RELEASED NEW BOOK, "BLUE-STATE REPUBLICAN OF THE.
HOW LARRY HOHN WON WHERE REPUBLICANS LOSE AND LESSONS FOR A FUTURE GOP."
DR. KROMER, THANKS FOR BEING WITH US.
THE BOOK IS COMING OUT VERY, VERY SOON, RIGHT?
>> Mileah Kromer: THIS FRIDAY, AS A MATTER OF FACT, SO VERY SOON.
>> Jeff: EXCELLENT TIMING.
YOU KNOW WE JUST HAD AN ELECTION AND HOLIDAY SHOPPING SEASON COMING UP.
>> Mileah Kromer: SURE.
I THINK IT'S A GREAT TIME TO GO OUT AND SUPPORT A LOCAL AUTHOR.
TEMPLE UNIVERSITY PROCESSING PUBLISH THE BOOK AND I'M REALLY EXCITED.
IT'S MY FIRST BOOK.
MAYBE IT WILL BE MY LAST.
I'M NOT SURE.
WE'LL FIND OUT.
>> Jeff: EXCELLENT STOCKING STUFFER.
THAT'S WHAT I WAGS TEEING UP FOR YOU.
SO THE REPUBLICAN PARTY NATIONALLY IS DOING SOME SOUL-SEARCHING.
DOES LARRY HOHN HAVE AN ANSWER HOAFNG?
>> Mileah Kromer: I THINK HE CERTAINLY DOES.
I DON'T KNOW IF HE HIMSELF WILL BE THE ANSWER BUT BUILDING A BROAD-BASED COALITION THE SCERNL THE KEY TOWARD ELECTORAL SUCCESS, PARTICULARLY IN SWING SPHAITS AND MORE DEMOCRATIC-LEANING AREAS OF THE COUNTRY.
I THINK THAT HOGAN IN 2018, AND TEASE REALLY WHERE THE INSPIRATION BEHIND THE BOOK, IS THAT NOT ON WAS IT INTERESTING TO HAVE A REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR WITH THAT POPULARITY RATING THAT WAS SUSTAINABLE BUT WHAT I SAW IN 2018 WAS THAT A REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR WHO WAS I WILL BE TO BUILD A BROAD-BASED COALITION THAT LOOKED DIFFERENT THAN THE COALITIONS THAT THE REPUBLICANS TYPICALLY CAN GET NATIONWIDE.
A KEY FACTOR OF HOGAN'S PATH TO VICTORY WAS WINNING ABOUT A THIRD OF DEMOCRATS 1 BUT WE ALSO WON ABOUT 28% OF BLACK VOTERS AND HE ESSENTIALLY CLOSED THE GENDER GAP AGAINST THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE BEN JEALOUS.
DLOANS GENDER CAP, APPEALING TO PEOPLE OF COLOR, SPECIFIC WILL YOU BLACK AMERICANS, IS SOMETHING TO THAT REPUBLICANS REALLY DON'T DO A GREAT JOB OF.
>> Jeff: AND THAT'S WHEN YOU DECIDED THERE WAS A BOX BOOK TO BE WRITTEN HERE.
>> Mileah Kromer: RIGHT.
AND ALSO A PORT OF.
WE'VE BEEN AROUND THE GOUCHER COLLEGE POLLS SINCE 2012.
HOGAN COMES ON THE SCENE IN 2014.
AND YOU CAN'T HELP BUT PAY ATTENTION.
IF YOU ARE SOMEBODY WHO DOES PUBLIC PFN OPINION RESEARCH AND YOU HAVE A REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR WHO CONTINUES TO PUT UP NUMBERS, 65%, 70% OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN, AND EVEN AFTER DONALD TRUMP WON THE REPUBLICAN NOMINATION FOR PRESIDENT AND THEN WON THAT ELECTION, HOGAN STILL REMAINED POPULAR WHERE TRUMP DRUG DOWN A LOT OF OTHER REPUBLICANS.
SO THAT TO ME WAS AN INTERESTING STORY THAT I THOUGHT NEEDED TO BE TOLD.
>> Jeff: WE'LL COME BACK TO HOGAN IN A MINUTE.
LET'S TALK ABOUT THIS ELECTION A LITTLE BIT.
WHAT, IN YOUR VIEW, HAPPENED TO THE EXPECTED REPUBLICAN RED WAVE THEY WERE CALLING IT?
>> Mileah Kromer: WELL, I CAN TELL YOU ONE THING, THAT POLL CITIES ARE, ALTHOUGH I'VE SEEN SOME FLACK THE POLLSTERS HAVE GOTTEN THROUGH THIS ELECTION CYCLE, POLLSTERS TOLL AMERICANS AND TOLD THEIR STATES THERE IS GOING TO BE A CLOSELY ELECTED ELECTION.
THERE'S A BALANCE POWER BETWEEN THE DPS AND REPUBLICANS.
IT WILL BE CLOSE IN THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE, AND THAT'S HOW IT TURNED OUT.
I THINK THERE I WAS LOT OF ENTHUSIASM IN REPUBLICANS HYPING UP A RED WAVE AND I I THINK SOME PEOPLE FELL MOO THAT TRAP, BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE POLLS, THE POLLS POINTED TING OOH ELECTION THAT WAS GOING TO BE CLOSINGLY CONTESTED AND IT JUST BROKE THE DEMOCRATS' WAY.
A LOT OF THAT CERTAINLY HAS TO DO WITH THING LIKE REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS THAT WERE INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT TO FEMALE VOTERS AND YOUNGER VOTERS AND ALSO IF YOU LOOK A DEMOCRATS AND THE POLLING AMONG DEMOCRATS, THEY WERE NOT AS IS OUR ON THE DIRECTION OF THE COMPANY -- OR THE COUNTRY, AND THEY WEREN'T AS IS OUR THE ON ECONOMIC CONDITIONS OF THE COUNTRY, EITHER WEEKS, AND SO DEMOCRATS WERE LARGELY SATISFIED AND LARGELY UPSET WITH REPUBLICANS FOR JANUARY 6th, FOR THE INSURRECTION, AS WELL AS THE OVERTURNING ROE ROE VS. WADE.
>> Jeff: LET ME REMIND OUR VIEWERS IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION FOR DR. KROMER ABOUT POLITICS WITH NATIONAL OR LOCAL OR ABOUT HER BOOK ON GOVERNOR HOGAN, GIVE US A NUMBER ON THE SCREEN OR YOU CAN EMAIL US A QUESTION ANOTHER LIVEQUESTIONS@MPT.ORG.
WHAT DID YOU SEE IN TERMS OF MARYLAND ELECTION RESULTS?
>> Mileah Kromer: I THINK THAT THINGS TURNED OUT EXACTLY AS OUR POLL MEASURE BACK IN SEPTEMBER, AND I WOULD ARGUE THAT THIS RACE WAS BASICALLY SET THE DAY THAT DAN COX WON THAT NOMINATION BACK IN JULY.
THERE WAS NEVER A PATH TO VICTORY FOR A TRUMP ALIGNED REPUBLICAN IN THIS STATE,.
THAT'S WHY HOGAN TRIED TO DISTANCE HIMSELF SO MUCH IN 2018.
DEMOCRATS HAVE NEVER LIKED FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP IN STATE.
DEMOCRATS ARE WHO YOU NEED TO WIN TO ACTUALLY BE SUCCESSFUL STATEWIDE.
AND I THINK THE RESULTS ARE BASICALLY BAKED IN THE SECOND DAN COX WON THAT NOMINATION.
>> Jeff: PHONE CALL FROM FREDERICK COUNTY.
THIS IS PETER.
THANK YOU FOR THE CALL.
GO AHEAD.
>> Speaker: YEAH, I'M JUST SAYING IT WOULD PROBABLY BE TWO BOOKS THAT YOU CAN WRITE, ONE ON HOW TO SURVIVE A PRIMARY AND THE STRATEGIES, AND THEN ALSO HOW TO SURVIVE THE GENERAL ELECTION.
THERE SEEMS TO BE TWO DIFFERENT STRATEGIES FOR A REPUBLICAN TO BE SUCCESSFUL.
>> Jeff: ABSOLUTELY.
DR. KROMER, YOUR THOUGHTS.
>> Mileah Kromer: THE CALLER BRINGS UP THE POINT THAT I THINK IS MOST IMPORTANT I MAKE AT THE VERY END OF THE BOOK, IS THAT WHILE HOGAN IS VERY SUCCESSFUL IN MARYLAND, HIS -- I THINK HIS SORT OF COMMON-SENSE CONSERVATISM, THAT BRAND OF REPUBLICANISM IS VERY POPULAR, I THINK ECLECTICCABLE IN SOME BLUE PARTS OF THE COUNTRY, HE'S GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF TROUBLE GETTING MOO THAT REPUBLICAN PRIMARY.
THE STARS WILL HAVE TO ALIGN FOR HIM TO BE ABLE TO COMPETE NATIONALLY.
HE'S CERTAINLY MAKING THOSE INITIAL FIRST STEPS TO TRY TO GET HIS NAME OUT THERE AND TO EARN SOME OF THE SUPPORT, BUT IT'S GOING TO BE A TOUGH RADIOED AHEAD ROAD FOR HIM EXACTLY AS THE CALLER SAID BY A OF THE PRIMARY ISSUE.
>> Jeff: IN TERMS OF POLITICAL INFLUENCE IN MARYLAND, WITHOUT DIMINISHING AT ALL THE ACCOMPLISHMENT OF BEING THE FIRST REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR RE-ELECTED IN MARYLAND SINCE THE 1950S, I THINK, THE KNOCK ON HIM WAS THAT HE NEVER HAD COATTAILS IN TERMS OF BUILDING HIS COALITION, AND IN TERMS OF THIS ELECTION IN GETTING HIS DESIGNATED SUCCESSOR THROUGH THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY.
>> Mileah Kromer: I THINK THAT'S A FAIR CRITICISM, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU'RE THE GUY AT THE TOP.
THEN YOU ARE ACCOUNTABLE FOR -- YOU'RE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THESE THOSE TYPES OF THIN HAPPENING IN YOUR PEARPT I WILL SAY.
MARYLAND IS NOT AN ISLAND.
WE ARE NOT I PLIEWN TO NATIONAL FORCES, AND IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT FOR ME TO SAY WHETHER IT'S HOGAN'S INABILITY OR WHETHER HE LIVED -- WE LIVE IN A WORLD WHERE DONALD TRUMP MADE THE REPUBLICAN BRAND SO UNTENABLE FOR DEMOCRATIC VOTERS WHO AGAIN MAKE UP THE SUPERMAJORITY OF STATE AND ULTIMATELY DETERMINE ELECTIONS, AS WELL AS INDEPENDENTS WHO FEEL NOT AS STRONG LIST A DEMOCRATS BUT REALLY DON'T LIKE THE FORMER PRESIDENT MUCH, EITHER, WHETHER IT'S ALL TO BE BLAMED ON HOGAN OR IT'S -- IT WOULD HAVE BEEN DIFFICULT FOR ANYBODY TO HAVE HIS PARTY PERFORM WELL WITH THE TRUMP SHE HAD HANGING OVER THEM.
>> Jeff: WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THE CONSISTENCY OF HOGAN'S POLLING IN YOUR WORK AND IN OTHER POLLS?
BEFORE TRUMP, DURING TRUMP, AFTER TRUMP, BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, THROUGH THE PANDEMIC, IT DIDN'T REALLY CHANGE THAT MUCH, DID IT?
>> Mileah Kromer: IT'S REMARKABLYBLY CONSIST, AND THAT IS THE BEST WAY I CAN DESCRIBE IT.
THE ONLY TIME WE HAVE EVER MEASURED HOGAN'S APPROVAL RATING BELOW 50% WAS THE VERY FIRST POLL WE TOOK ON HIM BACK IN FEBRUARY OF 2015.
SO IT HAS NEVER DROPPED BELOW.
I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT PEOPLE LIKE.
ONE, I THINK THEY LIKE THE CHECK -- THE CH DEMOCRATIC LEGISLATURE BUT EACH MAYBE MORE SO THE IDEA OF WORKING TOGETHER WITH THE DEMOCRATIC LEGISLATURE.
NOW, DEMOCRATS WILL PUSH BACK ON THIS AND SAY, HOGAN WAS ACTUALLY NOT A PARTNER IN GOVERNANCE.
HE WAS MORE OF A HINDERANCE.
BUT FROM I THINK THE MARYLAND VOTER'S PERSPECTIVE, THEY LOOK AT ANNAPOLIS AS AN EXAMPLE OF GOVERNMENT ACTUALLY FUNCTIONING.
ABLE TO GET SOME INCREMENTAL WINS BE WITH ABLE TO MOVE THE BALL FORWARD WITH A REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR AS WELL AS A DEMOCRATIC MAJORITY LEGISLATURE.
HE ALSO DID SOME THINGS THAT WERE POPULAR, REDUCING TOLLS IS A THING THAT WAS POPULAR.
HE TRIED TO PUSH THE START DATE TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS AFTER LABOR DAY.
THAT WAS REALLY POPULAR.
WE POLL ODD THAT.
AND THERE'S ALSO A DIVISION I THINK BETWEEN SUBL TRANSIT ADVOCATES AND DID PUBLIC TRANSIT ADVOCATES AND FOLKS WHO WANT ROADS AND HIGHWAYS.
HOHN HAS ALWAYS BEN A ROADS AND HIGHWAYS GOVERNOR, AND ALTHOUGH THAT IS UNPOPULAR FOR MORE DENSELY POPULATED AREAS WHO RELY ON PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, A LOT OF OTHER FOLKS LIKE TO SEE CONSTRUCTION DONE TO THE ROADS.
THOSE ARE SOME OF THE REASONS I WOULD POINT TO.
I TALK ABOUT THIS IN THE BOOK A LOT, HE'S DONE A GREAT JOB OF SURROUNDING HIMSELF WITH INDIVIDUALS WHO CAN EFFECTIVELY COMMUNICATE HIS MESSAGE.
>> Jeff: EMAIL QUESTION FOR YOU WHAT IS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GOVERNOR HOGAN AND FORMER VICE PRESIDENT PENS?
PENCE.
>> Mileah Kromer: I OBVIOUSLY DON'T HAVE ANY LIKE REAL INSIGHT ON THEIR PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP.
>> Jeff: THEY WERE BOTH REPUBLICAN GOVERNORS, RIGHT?
>> Mileah Kromer: THEY WERE BOTH REPUBLICAN GOVERNORS.
I DO BELIEVE THEY HAVE A FRIENDSHIP.
HE REFER TO PENCE OFTENTIMES AS HIS FRIEND MIKE PENCE.
CERTAINLY WHEN DAN COX TWEETED OUT MIKE PENCE IS A TRAITOR, ON JANUARY 6th, HOGAN CERTAINLY SPOKE OUT AGAINST THAT.
AND THE EXTENT WHICH THEY HAVE A CLOSER RELATIONSHIP THAN THAT I DON'T KNOW.
>> Jeff: ONE OF THE THINGS THE FIRST HOGAN ELECTION POINTED YOU THE, AND TELL ME IF THIS IS RIGHT, SOME PEOPLE RUN FOR OFFICE BECAUSE THEY WANT TO BE SOMEBODY.
SOME PEOPLE ONE U.
RUN FOR OFFICE BECAUSE THEY WANT TO DO SOMETHING.
HOGAN, WHEN HE FIRST RAN EIGHT YEARS AGO, WAS RUNNING TO DO SOMETHING.
HE WANTED TO CUT TAXES.
HE HAD A SPECIFIC THING IN THAT WORK.
THE SECOND ELECTION WAS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT AND HE WAS JUST RUNNING AS THE ANTI-TRUMP.
>> Mileah Kromer: I THINK THAT'S TRUE TO SOME EXTENT.
THE SECOND TERM WAS ALSO RUNNING ON HIS RECORD AND RUNNING ON HIS STYLE OF GOVERNANCE IN MARYLAND, AND AGAIN, AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, A LOT OF PEOPLE -- WE'VE ASKED ABOUT THIS THE IN THE GOUCHER COLLEGE POLL -- A LOT OF PEOPLE LIKE ON SEE BIPARTISAN COOPERATION IN GOVERNMENT, AND THAT'S EXACTLY, AGAIN, THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT HOGAN TALKED ABOUT IN A LOT OF HIS MESSAGING.
SO AGAIN, FIRST ELECTION YOU'RE CORRECT.
SO IF THE FIRST ELECTION WAS CERTAINLY A REFERENDUM ON O'MALLEY.
IT WAS USING THE RAIN TAG AS A MESSAGING, A MECH AS MANY TO MESSAGE THE ANTI-PAC SENTIMENT THAT A LOT OF MARYLANDERS STILL FEEL.
WHEN WE ASK MARYLANDERS IF THEY THINK THEY PAY TOO MUCH, TOO LITTLE OR ABOUT THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF TAXES, MOST MARYLANDERS SAY WE PAY TOO MUCH IN TAXES.
SO THERE IS -- HE CAPTURED SOME OF THAT SORT OF ANTI-O'MALLEY, ANTI-TAX SINLT.
BUT THE SECOND TERM FOR HOGAN WAS RUNNING ON HIS ROARED JUST LIKE ANY INCUMBENT DOES.
>> Jeff: MILEAH KROMER, TELL US WHERE YOU CAN FIND THE BOOK.
>> Mileah Kromer: ANYWHERE BOOKS ARE SPOAMED YOU CAN LOOK ON AMAZON OR GO RIGHTLY TO TEMPLE UNIVERSITY PRESS' WEBSITE.
GOOGLE BLUE STATE REPUBLICAN, MILEAH KROMER AND YOU WILL FIND IT.
>> Jeff: AND THE NEXT GOUCHER POLY GUESS WE'RE TALKING SPRINGTIME AT THIS POINT.
>> Mileah Kromer: SPRINGTIME, SESSION TIME.
WE'LL GET THE FIRST LOOK AT GOVERNOR-ELECT WES MOORE AS APPROVAL RATING, SO RIGHT AROUND THE FIRST TIME OF HOGAN'S FIRST SNAPSHOT IN TIME WE'LL TAKE ONE OF WES MOORE.
THIS IS MY THIRD GOVERNOR AS DIRECTOR OF GOUCHER COLLEGE POLL.
>> Jeff: LOOK FORWARD TO TALKING TO YOU THEN.
MILEAH KROMER, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
AND JOINING US NOW TALK ABOUT YOUR HEALTH, DR. STEVEN CZINN, DIRECTOR OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL AND CHAIR OF PEDIATRICIAN AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND SCHOOL OF MEDICINE.
DOCTOR, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.
WE'RE SEEING REPORTS OF CHILDREN'S HOSPITALS AROUND THE COUNTRY FACING A SURGE IN CASES OF RSV.
WHAT ARE YOU SEEING THERE?
>> Dr. Steven Czinn: WELL, I THINK OUR EXPERIENCE IS VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT OTHERS HAVE REPORTED IN THE NEWS MEDIA.
WE ARE SEEING VERY SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN RSV AT A POINT IN TIME WHEN WE GENERALLY DON'T SEE RSV, SO WE'RE ABOUT TWO MO AHEAD OF WHEN WE WOULD HAVE EXPECTED TO SEE RSV, AND WE ARE STRUGGLING TO MANAGE OUR BED SITUATION SO THAT WE CAN TAKE CARE OF ALL THE CHILDREN THAT NEED OUR SERVICES IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND.
AND AT THIS POINT I THINK WE'RE DOING AN OUTSTANDING JOB WITH OUR PARTNERS OF MAKING SURE EVERY CHILD THAT NEEDS A BED CAN GET A BED.
>> Jeff: ARE WE CLOSE TO A CRITICAL SITUATION?
I CERTAINLY HOPE NOT.
>> Dr. Steven Czinn: WELL, NO ONE ANTICIPATED RSV OCCURRING SO EARLY, AND WE ALSO DIDN'T ANTICIPATE FOR RSV TO OCCUR AT THE SAME TIME THAT FLU IS OCCURRING AND AT THE SAME TIME THAT RHINOVIRUS, WHICH IS THE COMMON COLD, IS OCCURRING, AND WE'RE ALSO SEEING SOME ANTEROVIRUS.
SO WE ARE DEFINITELY HAVING SOME DIFFICULTY, BUT WHAT I WOULD SAY IS ONE OF THE THINGS WE LEARNED IN COVID IS THAT COMMUNICATION IS REALLY IMPORTANT, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT THE HOSPITALS IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND THAT HAVE PEDIATRIC WARDS THAT TAKE CARE OF CHILDREN, WE'VE MANAGED TO COMMUNICATE VERY WELL ALMOST DAILY NOW TO GET AN IDEA OF WHICH HOSPITAL HAS WHAT SORT OF PEDIATRIC BEDS, AND SO WE'VE SORT OF ESTABLISH AN INCIDENT COMMAND OF SORTS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE KNOW EXACTLY WHAT BEDS AVAILABLE DOWN AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND VERSUS JOHNS HOPKINS, SINAI HOSPITAL, GBNC AND OTHERS, AND WE ARE WORKING VERY CLOSELY AND VERY WELL TO MAKE SURE WE CAN PUT THE RIGHT PATIENTS IN THE RIGHT HOSPITALS.
AND FOR RIGHT NOW IT'S ALLOWING US TO REALLY I THINK STRETCH OUR RESOURCES IN A WAY THAT'S VERY HELPFUL TO THE FAMILIES OF MARYLAND.
>> Jeff: WHAT IS THIS VIRUS, RSV?
IT'S NOT SOMETHING NEW, CORRECT?
>> Dr. Steven Czinn: CORRECT.
RSV IS A COMMON VIRUS, RESPIRATORY INTERSTITIAL VIRUS.
IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE SEE EVERY YEAR.
WE GENERALLY SEE IT PEAK LATER IN THE YEAR, I WOULD SAY MORE TOWARDS DECEMBER, JANUARY.
INTERESTINGLY, WE HAVEN'T SEEN MUCH RSV DURING THE COVID PANDEMIC, SO FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS WE HAVE SEEN VERY LITTLE RSV, AND WE ARE SUDDENLY SEEING SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED NUMBERS OF KIDS COMING DOWN WITH THAT VIRUS.
>> Jeff: AND THE THEORY IS THAT NOW THE WORLD IS PRETTY MUCH WIDE OPEN AND YOU HAVE PEOPLE WHO WERE PREVIOUSLY UNEXPOSED TO IT ALL OF A SUDDEN EVERYBODY IS GETTING EXPOSED?
>> Dr. Steven Czinn: WELL, ARE THERE THERE ARE A LOT OF THEORIES THAT ARE BEING DISCUSSED, BUT I THINK THE ONE THAT YOU ARTICULATED PERHAPS MAKE THE MOST SENSE.
SO IF YOU THINK ABOUT RSV, IT IS -- FOR AD ROUTINE VIRAL INFECTION, NOT VERY SERIOUS, BUT THE NEWBORNS, ZERO TO SIX MONTHS, ARE AT SIGNIFICANT RISK FROM THIS VIRUS, AND SO ARE THE SIX TO 12-MONTH-OLD POPULATION.
SO GENERALLY THERE'S A SUBSET OF THE KIDS IN THE FIRST YEAR OF LIFE THAT GET RSV EVERY YEAR, BUT FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS THAT HASN'T HAPPENED.
SO WE NOW HAVE ZERO TO ONE, ONE TO TWO AND TWO TO THREE-YEAR-OLDS WHO NEVER HAVE SEEN RSV AND NOW THAT WE'RE NO LONGER SOCIALLY DISTANCING, NOW THAT WE'RE NO LONGER WEARING MASKS AND EVERYBODY IS TRYING TO ACT NORMAL, I THINK WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS TWO OR THREE TIMES THE NUMBER OF KIDS WHO HAVE NEVER SEEN RSV SUDDENLY GET IT AT ONCE, AND SO I DON'T THINK THE VIRUS HAS BECOME MORE VIR RENT LENT LENT.
I DON'T THINK THE IMMUNE SYSTEMS OF CHILDREN HAS CHANGED BUT I THINK WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS TWO OR THREE YEARS WORTH OF KIDS WHO HAVE NEVER SEEN RSV SUDDENLY COME DOWN WITH IT.
>> Jeff: WHY IS IT THAT MOST CHILDREN HANDLE AND IT GET PAST IT AS IF IT WAS A COMMON COLD, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, AND SOME CHILDREN BECOME CRITICAL ILL?
CAN YOU FORECAST WHO IS GOING TO BE SUS EPTIBLE TO HAVING A REALLY SERIOUS CASE OF IT?
>> Dr. Steven Czinn: RIGHT.
WELL, THE AT-RISK POPULATION IS ZERO TO SIX MONTHS AND SIX MONTHS TO A YEAR,.
SO SO IF YOU LOOK AT ISSUE WHICH UNDER A YEAR OF AGE THEY ARE THE ONES MOST AT RISK.
AND ONE OF THE REASONS IS THAT THIS IS A RESPIRATORY INFECTION.
IT ENTERS THE BODY PRIMARILY THROUGH THE EARS, NOSE, MOUTH.
AND IT CAUSES A LOT OF MUSIC, MUCUS, SO RUNNY NOSES.
IN BABIES, IN VERY YOUNG BABIES, PARTICULARLY BABIES THAT ARE BREASTFEEDING OR EVEN BOTTLE FEEDING, THEY BECOME NOSE BREATHERS, SO WHEN THEY'RE FEEDING THEY CAN ONLY BREATHE THROUGH THEIR NOSTRILS.
THEIR NOSTRILS ARE VERY SMALL.
MUCH EASIER TOUT JUST RUN INTO SOME OBSTRUCTION WITH GET CLOGGED WITH IMLIEWKS AND HAVE TROUBLE BREATHING.
CLOGGED WITH MUCUS.
WHY SOME ITS KIDS DO BETTER EVEN IN THE FIRST YEAR OF LIFE, AGAIN THERE MIGHT BE A SUBSET OF KIDS WHO DO HAVE AN UNDERLYING IMMUNITY, BUT ANGELINA GENERALLY IT'S LUCK OF THE DRAW.
IF YOU CAN KEEP YOUR BABY RELAXED, CALM, IF YOU CAN MAKE SURE THEY'RE HYDRATED SO THAT THOSE SECRETIONS DON'T BECOME SO TENACIOUS, SO STICKY, THEN YOU HAVE A REALLY GOOD CHANCE OF WEATHERING THIS AT HOME AND NOT COMING INTO THE HOSPITAL.
>> Jeff: ADVICE FOR PARENTS.
HOW DO THEY KNOW, AT WHAT POINT DO THEY START TO GET WORRIED AND HOW DO THEY DECIDE WHEN AND WHERE TO TURN FOR CARE?
>> Dr. Steven Czinn: SO THIS IS A VERY DIFFICULT TIME PERIOD BECAUSE WE HAVE RHINOVIRUS, SORT OF THE COMMON COLD, WHICH IS GENERALLY NOT VERY SERIOUS.
WE DO HAVE RSV.
WE HAVE FLU.
THERE MAY BE SOME RESIDUAL COVID.
AND THERE ARE ALSO -- THERE'S A BLIP OF ANTEROVIRUS.
SO ALL OF THESE VIRUSES CAN CAUSE SYMPTOMS VERY SIMILAR.
RSV IS THE ONE THAT'S CAUSING THE MOST HAVOC, AND SO AS A PARENT I THINK, NUMBER ONE, YOU HAVE TO PAY ATTENTION, OF COURSE, WHICH ALL PARENTS DO, AND MONITOR HOW YOUR CHILD IS BREATHING.
IF YOU HAVE ANY CONCERNS ABOUT HOW YOUR CHILD IS BREATHING, THAT SHOULD TRIGGER A PHONE CALL TO YOUR CAREGIVER, YOUR PEDIATRICIAN, NURSE PRACTITIONERS, FAMILY PRACTITIONER OR A VISIT ON THE URGENT CARE CENTER.
SO WOULD I DEFINITELY KNOW EXACTLY WHERE THE CLOSEST URGENT CARE CENTER IS.
AND IF YOU BELIEVE YOUR BABY IS HAVING TROUBLE BREATHING, YOU RALLY NEED TO GET IN TOUCH WITH A HEALTH CARE GIVER VERY QUICKLY OR MAKE THE DECISION TO GO TO URGENT CARE.
THAT'S THE ONE THING THAT YOU HAVE TO PAY ATTENTION TO.
BUT IF YOU CAN KEEP YOUR BABY CALM, IF YOU CAN KEEP THEM HYDRATED AND THEY'RE DOING OKAY, THEN I THINK IT'S FINE TO TRY TO STAY AT HOME.
BUT IF YOU HAVE ANY CONCERNS, A TRIP TO YOUR PEDIATRICIAN OR TO URGENT CARE WOULD BE INDICATED.
COMING TO PEDIATRIC EMERGENCY RAONEL IS NOT A BAD IDEA BUT I WILL SAY THAT WE ARE INUNDATED WITH FAMILIES COMING DOWN TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM.
SO YOU MIGHT DO BETTER BY CALLING YOUR PEDIATRICIAN OR CAREGIVER FIRST TO GET SOME GUIDANCE.
>> Jeff: AND SIGNS THAT THE BABIES OR THE YOUNG CHILD IS REALLY LABORING TO BREATHE, NOT GETTING ENOUGH OXYGEN, THAT'S AN EMERGENCY.
>> Dr. Steven Czinn: CORRECT, CORRECT.
SO IF IT LOOKS LIKE THEY'RE STRUGGLING, IF THEY ARE -- IF YOU'RE GETTING A SENSE THAT THEY'RE WHEEZING OR MAKING ANY KIND OF NOISES, TRYING TO BREATHE IN OR BREATHE OUT, IF YOU SEE CHEST MOVEMENTS THAT YOU HAVE NEVER SEEN BEFORE, THAT'S THE INDICATION TO GET HELP.
AND AGAIN, IN AN EXTREME CASE CALL 911.
>> Jeff: WHAT DO DO YOU FOR YOUNG PATIENT AT THE HOSPITAL?
>> Dr. Steven Czinn: THE TREATMENT FOR RSV IS GENERALLY SUPPORTIVE.
SO THE KEY IS TO MAKE SURE THE BABY'S GETTING ENOUGH OXYGENATION, SO GIVING THE BABY OXYGEN THROUGH A NUMBER DIFFERENT WAYS IS A BIG HELP.
THAT HELPS SLOW DOWN THEIR BREATHING, MAKES THEM MORE COMFORTABLE.
AND INTRAVENOUS FLUIDS.
SO IT IS CRITICAL THAT THESE KIDS STAY HYDRATED.
IF YOU BECOME DEHYDRATED AND YOU'RE HAVING TROUBLE BREATHING, THAT'S A RECIPE FOR A SERIOUS PROBLEM.
SO WHEN THESE FAMILIES DO COME INTO THE HOSPITAL WITH THEIR KIDS, WE DO USE A LITTLE CANNULA, LITTLE TUBES WE PUT IN AROUND THE BABY'S NOSE TO HELP THE BABY BREATHE, PUT A MASK ON, AND IN MANY CASES WE NEED TO PUT AN INTRAVENOUS LINE IN TO HYDRATE.
BABY.
BUT THEN IT'S SUPPORTIVE.
IT TAKES A NUMBER OF DAYS.
BUT GENERALLY THE TYPE OF IR CAULK GET IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND FOR YOUR CHILD GENERALLY RESULTS IN A VERY POSITIVE AND GOOD OUT OUTCOME.
>> Jeff: LASTLY, ANYTHING WE SHOULD ALL BE DOING FROM A PREVENTION STANDPOINT AS WE HEAD INTO WHAT LOOKS LIKE IT MAY BE A SERIOUS FLU SEASON AND SO FORTH?
>> Dr. Steven Czinn: YEAH, GREAT QUESTION.
AND I THINK THAT'S AN IMPORTANT QUESTION.
SO I APPRECIATE YOU RAISING IT.
YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN SO FOCUSED ON COVID, AND MOST PEOPLE HAVE PROBABLY GOTTEN COVID AT THIS POINT.
A LARGE NUMBER OF THE POPULATION HAVE BEEN VACCINATED.
AND SO THERE'S NO -- NO ONE'S WEARING MASKS, NO ONE'S CONCERNED.
WE'RE TRYING TO GET BACK TO NORMAL.
BUT IT'S HARD FOR PEOPLE TO REMEMBER THAT DURING THE WINTERS, DURING FLU SEASONS, THERE ARE SOME COMMON-SENSE THINGS THAT WE STILL HAVE TO DO.
SO IF YOU HAVE A COLD, TRY TO STAY AWAY FROM PEOPLE.
CONSIDER WEARING A MASK.
IF YOU SNEEZE OR COUGH, MAKE SURE THAT YOU COVER YOUR MOUTH.
IF YOU HAVE A CHILD WHO'S GOT A RUNNY NOSE OR IS NOT FEELING WELL, DON'T SEND THEM TO DAYCARE OR TO PLAY GROUP.
SO A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT WAS ROUTINE AND COMMON TWO YEARS AGO BEFORE COVID HAVE KIND OF FALLEN BY THE WAYSIDE BECAUSE WE'RE JUST, I THINK JUST SO EXHAUSTED FROM COVID.
BUT WE HAVE TO GO BACK TO DOING THE ROUTINE THINGS WE USED TO DO.
IF YOU HAVE A FEVER, STAY HOME.
IF YOU'RE FEELING SICK, STAY HOME.
DON'T SEND YOUR KID TO SCHOOL IF THEY'RE NOT FEELING WELL.
AGAIN, WEAR A MASK OR ISOLATE YOURSELF FROM OTHER FRIENDS OR FAMILY IF YOU'RE NOT FEELING WELL.
AND I THINK THOSE TYPES OF THINGS CAN MAKE A VERY DRAMATIC DIFFERENCE AND DECREASE WHAT WE'RE STRUGGLING WITH RIGHT NOW, DECREASED NUMBERS OF CASES OF THESE VIRAL INFECTIONS IN KIDS AND ADULTS.
AND I WOULD ALSO SAY THE FLU VACCINE IS VERY EFFECTIVE, AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT THIS WOULD BE THE TIME TO GET IT.
IF YOU HAVEN'T GOT YOUR FLU VACCINE, IF YOUR CHILD HASN'T BEEN VACCINATED, THERE IS THE THIS IS THE TIME TO GET IT BECAUSE IT WILL BE EFFECTIVE IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS, AND I THINK WE ARE GOING TO BE ENTERING A VERY, VERY SERIOUS FLU SEASON AS WELL.
>> Jeff: STEVEN CZINN AT THE UNIVERSITY HAVE MARYLAND CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL.
SIR, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> Dr. Steven Czinn: THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> Jeff: AND THAT IS "DIRECT CONNECTION" FOR THIS WEEK.
WE'RE BACK FRIDAY WITH "STATE CIRCLE" AND THE LATEST ON MARYLAND PLOBLTION PLOBLTION.
JOIN US FRIDAY EVENING A 7:00.
AND PLEASE FOLLOW YOU ARE ON TWITTER @MPTNEWS.
NOW FOR ALL OF US AT MPT, THANK YOU FOR WATCHING AND HAVE A GREAT NIGHT.
CLOSED CAPTIONING HAS BEEN