The season of sniffles and sneezes is running rampant across the nation and the Avera footprint. So what can people do to stay ahead of the sickness? David Basel, MD, Avera internal medicine and pediatrics physician and Vice President of Clinical Quality for the Avera Medical Group explains the current trends and ways to slow the spread of respiratory illness.
What are we seeing across the Avera region in terms of respiratory illness?
Yes, so we're truly in full-fledged respiratory season right now. Several viruses are on the increase, probably led by influenza is what we're seeing the most of. Probably number two is COVID and we are seeing a little bit of RSV starting to show up as well. So it’s definitely that time of year.
Why are cases so high right now?
If we go back about five, six years ago, this is the time of year where we always saw the traditional influenza peak. Late January, early February is the seasonality of influenza traditionally. During the COVID years, COVID kind of suppressed influenza and other viruses. And so we didn't get that seasonality nearly as much. Now we're back to where we are seeing influenza re-established that seasonal peak. And so we think here in the next two or three weeks, we should be seeing that peak of influenza. At the same time, we have COVID in the background. COVID isn't quite as seasonal as influenza, but it does increase during the winter months. And so we're seeing that increase and add to it as well. RSV is another one of those seasonal ones that we're seeing come up.
Is it normal to have illnesses overlap?
Influenza and RSV have been around for forever. And they've had this seasonal pattern. COVID, we're still trying to figure out whether it's going to have that exact same seasonal pattern or not, because it, unlike influenza and RSV, that really kind of go away in the spring and summer months, COVID never seems like it goes away totally. And so we don't know if we're going to have that same peak as well, but it is increasing right now. And so you have three that are going up. That means a lot of people are out ill right now.
What can people do to help slow the spread?
With the three major viral respiratory illnesses really prevalent right now, it's more important than ever that if you're sick right now, stay home, don't go to work and spread it to others. Don't go to school and spread it to others. Don't try to be that hero. I think that's one thing we learned over the last several years. So first off, if you're sick, stay home, second, get tested so that we do know which one you may be dealing with. Wash your hands frequently because a lot of these can be spread through direct contact as well as through respiratory contact. So if you're coughing, make sure you you're covering your mouth so that you're not spreading it into the air. The other major way that you can prevent this is by getting your vaccination. So influenza vaccine works, COVID vaccine, RSV vaccine for the very young and the older high risk group are available. And these certainly can help decrease the amount of that that we see in the community, but particularly vaccinations can help protect keeping you from being hospitalized with severe illnesses categories.
What is the take home message?
Probably the two most important things right now, number one, make sure that you're staying home if you're sick. Number two, get your vaccines. They work, they're safe, they're effective.
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