Every year, respiratory viruses such as influenza (flu), COVID-19, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) cause hundreds of thousands of hospitalizations and thousands of deaths during the fall and winter virus season.
Respiratory viruses may cause both upper respiratory tract symptoms (the vocal chords and above) and lower respiratory tract symptoms (below the vocal chords). Some viruses also affect the nose, throat and lungs, and can lead to serious lung infections, such as pneumonia.
There are actions you can take to help protect yourself and others from health risks caused by respiratory viruses. Stay home and away from others until at least 24 hours after both your symptoms are getting better overall, and you have not had a fever (and are not using fever-reducing medication). Resume normal activities and use added prevention strategies over the next five days.
If you have an emergency warning sign (like trouble breathing or chest pain), seek emergency medical care immediately.
Washington State Department of Health has a Respiratory Illness Data Dashboard that show trends in Washington state for COVID-19, influenza (flu), and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). The data on these dashboards help us monitor early signs of disease spread, severity of illness, vaccination rates, virus variants or subtypes occurring in Washington, and hospital bed use due to COVID-19, flu, and RSV.
Influenza and COVID-19 test kits are available at the Health Department at 42 Elochoman Valley Rd in Cathlamet, WA. For availability of influenza, COVID-19, and RSV vaccines at the Health Department, please call (360) 795-6207.