It’s been a tough year for flu in Baton Rouge, according to Dr. Rani Whitfield. “This is probably the heaviest respiratory season we’ve seen since Covid,” says Dr. Whitfield. As the chief medical officer at Open Health Care Clinic (OHCC) in Louisiana, he has seen a major surge in RSV, influenza, and Covid-19. Currently, his team is also treating severe secondary infections like pneumonia. These illnesses spread quickly among families living in crowded housing. Consequently, severe infections began overwhelming local emergency rooms earlier this season. This surge is a major concern for Open Health, which provides specialized care to patients living with HIV and AIDS. BRACING FOR A TRIPLE THREAT IN LOUISIANA “It’s quieter now, but this was the season,” Dr. Whitfield said. Clinicians at OHCC have focused on vaccinating patients – to prevent the worst symptoms – and on providing immediate testing for influenza and Covid-19 , along with antivirals to prevent severe cases. To make this possible, Dr.…