BY MARK J. CRAWFORD
Telegraph Editor
Florida’s cold and flu season is longer than other parts of the country, and the spread of respiratory viruses is high during holiday gatherings and when people return to work and school.
At best you are miserable and confined to bed, but respiratory illnesses can result in hospitalization and death, which is why annual vaccination is encouraged as early as possible during the season, which begins in October and lasts through May.
The very young, those 65 and older and pregnant women are at the most risk.
Based on the Florida Department of Health’s most recent report, Bradford County experienced a flu outbreak right before Christmas.
Influenza is not one, but a variety of viruses primarily spread by droplets when people cough, sneeze or speak, and less often by touching a contaminated surface and then touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
Symptoms of the flu include a fever with a cough or sore throat. A fever of 102 degrees or higher can persist for three or four days. The nose may also be stuffy or sneezy. The body will hurt and feel exhausted. It can take as long as two to three weeks to recoup one’s energy, according to the FDOH.
If you have the flu, you should stay home at least 24 hours after your fever disappears without the use of a fever-reducing medication, or for four to five days after symptoms first appeared. Drink plenty of fluids and rest. Some over the county medications may effectively reduce symptoms but avoid taking aspirin without approval of your doctor. Acetaminophen (such as Tylenol) or ibuprofen (such as Advil or Motrin) can relieve fever and aches.
To further prevent the spread of the illness, wash your hands, and do not share cups or utensils. Cover your mouth and nose when sneezing or coughing. If you don’t have a tissue, use your upper sleeve or elbow, not your hands.
According to FDOH, most people recover from the flu without seeing a health care provider. However, if symptoms get worse, appear better and then get worse, or a fever persists more than a few days, you should see your doctor right away.
For those with asthma or another chronic respiratory condition, discuss with your doctor how to manage your condition while sick. You could be more vulnerable to severe illness from respiratory infections.
To prevent becoming sick, FDOH recommends avoiding close contact with sick individuals, including handshakes and touching. Also, clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces.
Stay home when you are sick and ensure that sick children stay home as well.
Much of the same guidance applies to respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV. This is a common virus, and infection results in mild, cold-like symptoms. Young children and older adults are at greater risk, Vaccines for RSV for adults 60 and older was approved just last year.
A long-acting monoclonal antibody for children 20 months and younger was also approved. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, RSV is the leading cause of hospitalization among infants. Most are infected during their first year, and nearly all have been infected by age 2. RSV infection can lead to severe bronchitis.
You can search for vaccine availability at Vaccines.gov, but locations typically include pharmacies like Walgreens and CVS.
COVID-19
Severe COVID-19 infections have also risen recently in the United States. According to the CDC, emergency room visits for COVID increased nearly 30% in the final week of December. Hospitalizations were up more than 20% to nearly 35,000, and COVID-related deaths were up 12.5%.
More than 1.16 million people have died of COVID in the U.S., and more than 6.6 million have been hospitalized.
COVID’s symptoms most often resemble the cold, flu or pneumonia, but it can attack more than the respiratory system. While symptoms are usually mild, the illness can become severe, and even mild or asymptomatic infections can lead to long-term, post infection conditions. If you are older, immunocompromised or have an underlying health condition, you are a greater risk.
Because COVID is highly infectious, preventing the spread includes precautions such as isolation, masking and avoiding contact with those at greater risk from infection. If you test positive, you should isolate yourself at home for at least five days. If you must be around others, wear a mask. Avoid travel, however. If you have an emergency warning sign such as trouble breathing, seek emergency medical care immediately.
If symptoms improve, you can end isolation after five days if you’ve gone 24 hours without a fever. Continue to isolate if symptoms persist until there is improvement, and you are fever-free for 24 hours. You should consider making it through day 10 unless you have two negative antigen tests at least 48 hours apart. A positive test means you may still be infectious.
CDC guidance is that everyone 6 months and older receive a free COVID vaccination. Children 6 months to 4 years will need multiple doses to get up to date, including one of the updated COVID vaccines. A dose of this updated vaccine is recommended for everyone 5 and older.
The updated 2023-24 vaccine targets the COVID Omicron variant and boosts protection from earlier vaccines, which may have diminished over time.
To those who have been infected and want to prevent reinfection, a waiting period of three months following infection is recommended unless your health or a loved one’s health is at risk.
Bradford County has already had 36 positive COVID cases in 2024, and Union has had seven. Bradford has almost matched its December total of 44 cases less than two weeks into the new year. This follows the trend of recent years with a higher number of cases in the winter months following the holidays.
Other peak months in Bradford and Union, according to the state numbers, include June, July and August, when there tends to be more travel and people are returning to school.
