LOVELAND MAGAZINE

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Tag: Respiratory Syncytial Virus

  • In COVID’s third winter, biggest threat is three viruses at once

    In COVID’s third winter, biggest threat is three viruses at once

    BY: NICK EVANS – Ohio Capital Journal

    Ohio health officials are urging caution again this winter. But entering our third holiday season with COVID-19, the nature of those warnings is a bit different.

    Three at once

    As Ohio Department of Health Director Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff explained, this year the threat is multiple respiratory viruses at once.

    “Unlike the last two winters, it’s not just about COVID,” he said. “But the combination of COVID, influenza, and RSV, especially for those whose health is more vulnerable or who have not been adequately vaccinated against flu and COVID-19.”

    RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus, often feels like a common cold for adults and otherwise healthy children. But for infants, the elderly or immunocompromised people it can be dangerous. According to the CDC, RSV is the most common cause of bronchitis and pneumonia among kids 12 months old and younger.

    Unlike COVID-19 and flu, RSV has no vaccine.

    Precautions and metrics

    As ever, Vanderhoff’s chief precautionary recommendations are for people feeling ill to stay home and for everyone to wash their hands regularly. In situations where people must leave the house, officials recommend wearing an N95 mask.

    He also urged those who haven’t gotten vaccinated for the flu or COVID-19 to do so.

    “Vaccination is the safest and most dependable way to assure that you’re maximizing that cellular immunity I talked about,” Vanderhoff explained. “It gives your immune system its best opportunity to confront and beat the virus.”

    According to the CDC, the COVID-19 community level — a statistic based on number of hospital admissions and number of cases per 100k population — is low in many Ohio counties. Twelve rank as ‘high’ based on those metrics.

    Dr. Joe Gastaldo, OhioHealth medical director for infectious diseases, said people should be especially cautious in those counties.

    “In those scenarios, regardless of vaccination status, the recommendation is to wear a mask,” he said. “If you’re not feeling well wear a mask. I think specifically if you have an at-risk condition, or are immunocompromised, I would advise you as an infectious disease doctor to wear a mask indoors in public.”

    The CDC’s more familiar community transmission metric, based on cases per 100k population and percentage of positive tests, remains high throughout the state. All but nine of the Ohio’s 88 counties rank high for community transmission and none are low.

    As for RSV and the flu, Vanderhoff noted this year both started earlier and rose more rapidly than in past years. Both viruses have receded from their peak, he explained, but remain dangerous for some populations.

    Follow OCJ Reporter Nick Evans on Twitter.

  • Fall viruses are hitting with a vengeance. Tips for a healthier holiday season

    Fall viruses are hitting with a vengeance. Tips for a healthier holiday season

    Flu, RSV and COVID-19 are the current viruses going around at the moment as we approach the 2022 holidays. Here is what you can do to keep your loved ones safer.

    By: Katie Kerwin McCrimmon, UCHealth

    Flu, RSV and COVID-19 infections all are skyrocketing just as we’re gearing up for the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.

    “We are officially in respiratory viral season. That includes everything you can think of from the common cold to more severe illnesses, and it has begun with a vengeance,” said  Dr. Michelle Barron, senior medical director of infection prevention and control for UCHealth and one of the top infectious disease experts in Colorado.

    “Sometimes we have a slow start to the respiratory season. Not this year,” Barron said. “We went from nothing to hundreds of cases in a very short time frame.”

    Barron is advising people who are sick to avoid large gatherings.

    We don’t have to go back to the isolation of the 2020 Thanksgiving and holidays season. But Barron is encouraging people to think of others before they travel or show up at a big Thanksgiving dinner or another holiday gathering.

    “Use your common sense. If you’re sick, you don’t want to give your illness to grandma and grandpa. At the end of the day, the goal is to still be able to do things and enjoy the holidays. Just do it in a way that doesn’t impact others badly,” said Barron, who is also a professor at the University of Colorado School of Medicine on the Anschutz Medical Campus.

    Her guidance is straightforward and familiar to most people since this is the third Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday season we’re facing since the pandemic began in early 2020.

    Barron’s advice for staying healthier over the 2022 holidays includes:

    • Getting vaccinated to prevent COVID-19 and flu. (There’s no vaccination yet to prevent RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus), but there may be one for pregnant women soon.)
    • Staying home from work, holiday gatherings and parties if you’re sick.
    • Washing your hands frequently.
    • Wearing a mask in crowded indoor settings.
    • Testing yourself or going to your doctor’s office to get tested if you are sick. If you test positive, there are therapies that can help people early in the course of a COVID-19 or flu illness.
    • Seeking emergency medical care immediately if you or your child can’t breathe or you are experiencing any other kind of medical emergency.
    • Get preventive care like regular vaccines for children and adults and keep current on medications for chronic illnesses like diabetes.

    “Now is the time. If you have not done it yet, get your flu shot and your COVID-19 bivalent booster,” Barron said.

    Health experts at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also are urging people to think about indoor air quality. Keep in mind that respiratory illnesses spread through the air. Using air filters and opening windows to ventilate crowded indoor settings can help reduce the spread of respiratory illness. See how ventilation might help you stay safer by checking out the CDC’s interactive ventilation tool.

    Viruses going around at the moment in 2022

    The current infectious disease outlook is worrisome since doctors and public health experts are fighting a trifecta of foes: flu, RSV and COVID-19.

    Last year, health experts worried about a potential “twindemic” of flu and COVID-19 cases. COVID-19 infections increased dramatically last fall and winter, but the flu season wasn’t as bad as feared.

    This year, flu and RSV have hit early and COVID-19 infections are increasing this fall, just like they have for three years in a row. Twin infectious diseases that were worrisome in past years have morphed into a trio causing illnesses this year.

    “If you are sick, do not show up at gatherings or wear a mask,” Barron said, reiterating the perennial advice she gives at this time of year.

    “Be very cognizant that these infections can disproportionally impact our elderly, our very young children, and our immunocompromised hosts,” Barron said. “We want to make sure that these people don’t get infected and that everybody’s equally able to enjoy the holidays, illness free.”

    Many people are tired of being careful or wearing masks. But the evidence is clear. Wearing a mask on a plane or in a crowded grocery story can drive down infection rates.

    “There is zero debate on this,” Barron said. “Masking works. If you really want to see your loved ones during vacation, wearing a mask will help you prevent the spread of illnesses.”