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Emergency departments (EDs) always seem busier during a full moon, despite evidence to the contrary. Tonight was no exception. Over a 6-hour period, it seemed that almost half of the patients presented with similar complaints of high fever, cough, shortness of breath, and generalized ill feeling. Five young, previously healthy individuals required intubation and mechanical ventilation for severe respiratory distress. Strangely, most of the patients knew each other from work and none of their family members were suffering similar symptoms. At 11 p.m., the only other community hospital in the area went on diversion because all of their intensive care unit (ICU) beds were full and their need for mechanical ventilators was at a critical level. The public health officer on call was not aware of any recent infectious outbreak. |
