Health care agencies in Kentucky and Illinois have reported a rapid uptick in respiratory illnesses in recent weeks. Illnesses include flu, COVID and RSV, and family gatherings around the holidays can make illnesses more likely to spread.
The Illinois Department of Public Health and medical professionals at Norton Healthcare in Louisville, Kentucky, said that a significant portion of patients at emergency departments present with respiratory symptom.
“I can say anecdotally, about 50% of the patients I see in the emergency care center have been having respiratory-like symptoms such as body aches, runny nose, cough, congestion, fever,” said Dr. Robert Link with Norton Healthcare.
In Illinois, emergency room visits due to respiratory illness increased from 13.8% to 14.7% for the week ending Dec. 14, IDPH reported Monday.
“The best protection from severe illness caused by COVID-19, flu and RSV remains the highly effective vaccines that are widely available,” said IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra. “Other effective tools include enhanced ventilation and good hand hygiene. If you are having concerning respiratory systems, please seek medical care.”
IDPH recommends the updated COVID and flu vaccines for everyone over 6 months of age. The RSV vaccine is recommended pregnant women and for adults 75 or older.
For those with flu or COVID, antiviral treatments are available, but should be started quickly after symptoms appear. Antivirals are available from a medical professional by prescription only, so IDPH recommends getting tested as soon as possible after symptoms appear.
Both agencies recommend proper handwashing and good hand hygiene, as well as self-isolation if symptoms start to show. Those with symptoms should also remember to cover their mouths when they cough or sneeze.
To find a provider for flu, COVID or RSV vaccines, visit vaccines.gov. Visit the Respiratory Illness Data Channel to view respiratory illness data by location.
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