Many Arizonans will gather with loved ones to celebrate the holidays over the next few weeks. Viruses spread more commonly during fall and winter, especially the respiratory viruses that cause COVID-19, Flu, and RSV illness. Fortunately, there are steps we can take to help ourselves and our loved ones stay healthy during this holiday season.
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Check the ADHS and the CDC weekly snapshots to keep up with respiratory illness trends in Arizona and the U.S. These data reports include wastewater viral activity, an important indicator of infection levels.
Vaccination remains the best way to protect yourself and your loved ones against serious outcomes of these viral respiratory illnesses. Vaccination is especially important for people who are at higher risk of developing serious complications.
While vaccination may not prevent someone from getting a respiratory illness, it can significantly decrease the severity of the symptoms - causing the disease to go from “Wild to Mild” - and may prevent hospitalization and even death. Two flu-associated pediatric deaths have been reported in Arizona thus far this season.
It is not too late to get vaccines for the 2024-2025 respiratory virus season!
What to Know About Respiratory Viruses for the Holidays
- Large gatherings, crowded travel, and more time indoors can mean more viruses spreading around the holidays.
- There are vaccines to protect against all three of these viruses. These vaccines have been shown to prevent severe disease and can be lifesaving. They can also help ensure you are able to enjoy valuable time with loved ones.
- There also are other habits you can practice to stay healthy, including, for example:
- get enough sleep during the holidays
- stay hydrated during the celebrations
- get some exercise and spend time outdoors when you can
- If you do get sick, there are tests and treatments to help get you to feel better sooner.
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