COVID-19 mitigation practices incorporated over the last year like masking, social distancing, and frequent hand washing also had decreased other transmissible illnesses like the flu. However, LSU Health New Orleans Chief of Infectious Disease Dr. Julio Figueroa said as mandates relax, we are starting to see a gradual increase in other viruses like the common cold.
“A lot of the children’s hospitals are reporting increases in something called Respiratory Syncytial Virus, or RSV, which usually occurs in the wintertime but they’re now starting to see it in May,” said Figueroa.
There is no vaccine currently for RSV.
Figueroa said the pandemic put into play real-life examples of how proper mitigation efforts can decrease transmission of communicable diseases, something health officials have touted for years.
“It emphasizes the fact that when we practice good public health measures to reduce transmission of COVID we can reduce the transmission of other things as well,” said Figueroa.
Highly transmissible respiratory viruses in this part of the country, Figueroa said tend to spread faster in the winter months when people gather more indoors versus outside. When asked if we need to return to mitigation practices when we see an uptick in flu cases Figueroa said possibly, however…
“And then of course we have a vaccine, hopefully by the time that we start seeing the flu again, the new vaccine in the coming year,” said Figueroa.
Figueroa said vaccines, increased hand washing, and staying home when you are sick are the best methods of decreasing the spread of viruses.
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