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Health expert says 'too early' to determine holiday virus season severity

By Katy Szpak

Posted December 13, 2024

About 35 percent of adults in Indiana have gotten a flu vaccine, down from this time last year. (natus111/Adobe Stock)

The viruses that cause COVID, RSV, colds and the flu are seeing a seasonal rise.

Nationally and in Indiana, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is reporting moderate seasonal illness activity. It’s expecting activity to continue to increase in the upcoming weeks.

Statewide, the CDC shows low virus levels in wastewater but increasing hospital visits for COVID, flu and RSV.

cdc virus map — The acute respiratory illness metric “captures a broad range of diagnoses from emergency department visits for respiratory illnesses, from the common cold to severe infections like influenza, RSV and COVID-19,” according to the CDC. (*CDC Data)*

Libby Richards, associate professor in the School of Nursing at Purdue University, said it’s too early into the respiratory virus season to determine if this will be a typical year.

“We currently are not seeing more (influenza) than the number of cases that we have seen in the past, so I think that's a good sign,” she said. “However, when you break out the data and look at both flu and pneumonia, the number of pneumonia cases is much higher this year than last year. So it might just be that one virus is going to be more prominent than another.”

With increased travel, social gatherings and indoor time during the holidays, the risk of contracting a virus is greater than usual.

“In addition, the cold, dry air dries out our nasal passages,” Richards said. “When those passages are impaired, it's easier for viruses to infiltrate. So even just dry air puts us at increased risk. Another big reason is viruses such as the cold, flu, COVID-19 thrive better in cold air, so they are airborne longer than in warmer humid weather.”

If you’re planning to host for the holidays, Richards recommends vaccinating for COVID and flu to keep not just yourself but your guests healthy.

“Especially those who are unable to be vaccinated due to immune-compromised situations,” she said. “So babies less than six months of age, if you have a new baby in your house, you're going to want to hold it and snuggle it over Christmas. You don't want to give them the gift of COVID-19.”

Almost 100,000 Hoosiers are up to date on their COVID vaccinations. That’s less than 2 percent of Indiana’s population.

About 35 percent of adults in Indiana have gotten a flu vaccine, down from this time last year. It takes two weeks for your body to develop antibodies from the vaccine.

There have been five flu-associated deaths in Indiana so far this year. The first was reported in the last week of November.

The recommendations for how to stay healthy haven’t changed: getting enough sleep, exercising, eating well. Richards said getting as much sunlight as you can during the winter is also crucial for the immune system.

To keep away the common cold, hand washing and sanitizing countertops, light switches, and doorknobs are tried-and-true prevention methods.

“Don't forget about a face mask,” Richards said for those planning to travel for the holidays. “If you are very concerned about exposure — especially on an airplane. That's completely personal preference but could be an efficient way to keep yourself safe.”