This time of year, many of our staff are focused on the same thing: respiratory illness season. Around this time, viruses like flu, COVID-19, and RSV begin to spread and make people sick.
These viruses send thousands of Washington residents to the hospital. Some get very sick, and sadly, some even die. Our job is to help keep you and your community as healthy as possible.
The good news? The steps you need to take to protect yourself are simple and clear.
The big 3 viruses
There are many respiratory viruses to contend with, but we focus most on 3 of them because they have the biggest health impacts on our community. While these diseases are different in certain ways, we can use similar prevention strategies for all 3, and for other respiratory viruses too.
Flu (influenza)
Flu is a virus that infects your nose, throat, and sometimes your lungs. Most years in Washington, flu kills more than 100 people and puts thousands more in the hospital.
RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus)
RSV usually feels like a regular cold. Most people get better in a week or two. But it can be really dangerous for babies and elderly people.
COVID-19
COVID-19 spreads very easily from person to person. Most people only get mild symptoms, but some people get very sick.
Respiratory illness data
Respiratory viruses don’t respect county lines. Because many of us travel between counties in the region, we have teamed up with Public Health Seattle-King County (PHSKC) and Snohomish County Health Department to pool our data. We used it to create a new metric called Acute Respiratory Illness (ARI) that tracks disease activity in the region.
ARI includes COVID-19, flu, and RSV, as well as additional diseases. When emergency department visits go above the threshold, we know respiratory illness activity is high in our region. At that point, healthcare facilities might require masks.
This season, our respiratory illness data dashboard have a new look that include ARI and the new threshold. We will still include separate data on the 3 viruses, as well as laboratory testing data so you can see how many positive tests hospitals and clinics are reporting.
What symptoms look like
All 3 of these viruses can cause symptoms like:
- Cough.
- Runny nose or congestion.
- Fever.
- Sore throat.
- Body aches.
Who’s at higher risk?
Some people are more likely to get really sick from these viruses:
- Young kids (especially babies).
- Older adults.
- Pregnant women.
- People with health problems like asthma, diabetes, heart disease, or weakened immune systems.
How to protect yourself and others
Get vaccinated
We have vaccines for all three viruses!
We support evidence-based recommendations from trusted national medical specialty societies, including the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), and the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG).
We support evidence-based recommendations from trusted national medical organizations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), and the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG). These recommendations are similar to previous years, and you do not need a prescription from your doctor to get them.
Flu vaccines:
- They’re updated every year to fight the newest versions of the flu virus.
- Everyone 6 months old and older should get them.
COVID-19 vaccines:
- They’re updated every year to fight the newest version of the virus.
- Everyone 6–23 months, 2–18 years at high risk, and 19 years or older should get them.
- All others 2–18 years may get them.
RSV protection recommendations differ depending on your age:
- Babies and some toddlers should get a monoclonal antibody protective immunization (nirsevimab or clesrovimab). These provide ready-made antibodies to fight RSV. In most cases, babies who already have protection from maternal vaccination don’t need a monoclonal antibody.
- Pregnant women can get an RSV vaccine that protects their baby after birth.
- People over 75, and people 50-74 with certain health problems, should get an RSV vaccine.
The fall is also a good time to get a pneumonia vaccine if you need one.
Where to get vaccines
Ask your healthcare provider or use a vaccine finder to locate pharmacies near you.
Other ways to protect yourself
Even if you’re young and healthy, these viruses can make you miss school or work. When lots of people get sick at once, emergency rooms and hospitals get full. This makes it harder for everyone to get medical care. That’s why it’s important to take the steps we know can protect you and your community.
If you get sick:
- Stay home! Don’t spread it to others.
- If you have to go out, wear a mask.
- Use at-home COVID tests to see if you have COVID.
- If you’re at high risk of getting very sick, call your primary care provider. They might give you medicine to help you feel better faster.
To avoid getting sick:
- Wash your hands often with soap and warm water (hand sanitizer works too).
- Wear a mask in crowded indoor places, especially if you’re at higher risk or around people who are.
We’re here to help
We’ll keep you updated all season long. Check out our new data dashboard to see how much these viruses are spreading in Pierce County. This can help you decide what precautions to take.
If you want to learn more:
Stay safe and healthy this season!
link