With respiratory illnesses on the rise, CNHSA and CDC urge public to take precautions

After the holidays, respiratory virus season is in full swing in the U.S.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, as of January 3, 2025, the amount of acute respiratory illness causing people to seek healthcare is at a high level and continues to increase nationally.

Nationally, emergency department visits for Influenza and RSV were at “very high” levels at the time of reporting and increasing. Each year, respiratory viruses cause millions of illnesses and thousands of hospitalizations and deaths in the United States.

Fortunately, there are steps people can take to protect themselves and others from these health risks.

The CDC suggests the following prevention strategies to help protect from severe respiratory illnesses.

• Stay updated with your immunizations.
• Practice good hygiene by covering your coughs and sneezes, washing or sanitizing your hands frequently, and cleaning commonly touched surfaces regularly.
• Take steps to maintain cleaner air by bringing in fresh outdoor air, using air purifiers indoors, or gathering outside when possible.

According to Choctaw Nation Epidemiologist Mason Emert, immunizations play an important role in protection.

“In terms of protecting yourself this season yourself this season, one of the biggest components is staying up to date on vaccinations, whether it be COVID-19, Influenza, or RSV (for those eligible),” said Emert.

When you may have a respiratory virus:

• To prevent the spread of illness, stay home and avoid others, including those you live with, if you have unexplained respiratory symptoms like fever, cough, or fatigue.
• If you have risk factors for severe illness, seek medical care promptly, as treatment may reduce your risk of complications.

“When sick, of course we recommend staying home and away from others until at least 24 hours after your last fever without taking fever-reducing medications,” said Emert. “These two steps, along with proper hand hygiene, can significantly reduce the risk of catching a respiratory virus or at least developing severe symptoms.”

Additional prevention strategies you can choose to further protect yourself and others include:

Masks-Wearing a mask helps reduce the risk of spreading respiratory viruses. When an infected person wears a mask, it lowers transmission to others and protects the wearer from inhaling infectious particles. Different masks offer varying levels of protection; choose the most protective one that fits well and covers both the nose and mouth comfortably.

Physical distancing-Keeping physical distance from others can help reduce the spread of respiratory viruses, though no specific distance ensures safety as transmission depends on various factors.

Tests-Testing for respiratory viruses is important because it can help you determine the next steps, such as obtaining treatment to reduce your risk of severe illness and taking precautions to prevent spreading the virus to others. There are different types of tests available for respiratory virus infections. Antigen tests, often referred to as “self-tests” or “rapid tests,” generally provide results quickly — usually within about 15 minutes. On the other hand, nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs), which include polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests, are typically administered by a healthcare provider. While antigen tests are faster, they are not as reliable as NAATs for detecting viruses. This means that it is possible to receive a negative result from an antigen test while actually being infected with the virus.

All prevention strategies detailed in this guidance can help reduce risk, especially when:

• Respiratory viruses are causing a lot of illness in your community.
• You or the people around you were recently exposed to a respiratory virus, are sick, or are recovering.
• You or the people around you have risk factors for severe illness.

Many factors can make it more likely for someone to become very sick from a respiratory virus. In addition to this guidance, there are several specific considerations for people with certain risk factors for severe illness (young children, older adults, people with weakened immune systems, people who are pregnant, and people with disabilities).

You may not be aware of the things that can make others more vulnerable to serious illness. Using the core prevention strategies will provide a degree of protection regardless. If you are unsure about the health condition or risk status of those around you, the most protective option is choosing to use additional prevention strategies, like masking, physical distancing, and testing.