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 Flu, COVID-19, and RSV illness. Fortunately, there are steps we can take to help ourselves and our loved ones stay healthy during this holiday season. Both ADHS and the CDC provide weekly snapshots of respiratory illness trends. On December 14, 2023, the CDC reported that overall respiratory illness activity in many states is increasing. In Arizona, the prevalence of respiratory illness is moderate, with influenza and RSV rates increasing and COVID-19 activity is stable. One pediatric influenza death has been reported in Arizona thus far this season.
CDC expects the upcoming fall and winter respiratory disease season will likely have a higher number of hospitalizations than that experienced prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, when severe disease was caused primarily by the influenza virus and the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
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. It is not too late to get vaccines for the 2023-2024 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.
- This is the first year that 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.
