This article appeared on AZ Central. Read more here.
The winter season drove a new wave of COVID-19 infections across the United States in early January, including in Arizona, where state data indicated a rise in those experiencing symptoms of respiratory illnesses like the flu and RSV.
The “tripledemic” is how physicians and medical providers nicknamed all three viruses’ seasonal surge. Numbers published by the Arizona Department of Health Services show a slowing in Influenza and RSV activity, though they remain higher than the average for the last five seasons for the week ending Jan. 27.
AZDHS data also indicates that coronavirus infections have stabilized, remaining below the average of the last three seasons. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s latest county snapshot categorizes overall respiratory illness activity in Arizona as “moderate.”
Though case numbers have trended downwards, the winter season can still drive more infections of respiratory illnesses. Here are a couple of things to know about the CDC’s latest COVID-19 guidelines and how to avoid getting infected during the “tripledemic”:
When should I get tested for COVID-19?
If you start to experience symptoms, which include shortness of breath and fever, among others, or you know you have been exposed to COVID, you should get a test.
How can I get a free COVID-19 test kit?
At-home tests have become the quickest way to determine whether an individual has been infected with COVID-19. They are sold at drugstores like CVS, Walgreens, Fry’s and other retailers. Individuals can also order free test kits and receive them in the mail from the federal government at www.covid.gov.
These sorts of tests are Antigen tests that involve swabbing the inside of the nostril and then placing the swab in a liquid solution which is used on a test strip. Individuals can see results in approximately 20 minutes.
What should I do if I have COVID?
The CDC published recommendations for what to do if you have COVID-19 in May 2023.
A blog post on their website lists four points: Protect yourself and others if you have COVID-19, stay at home for at least 5 days, wear a mask around other people for 10 days and get medicine if you think you might get very sick.
The CDC clarifies that you should call your doctor as soon as you know you are sick with COVID-19.
Where can I get vaccinated for COVID-19?
To find a COVID-19 vaccine in your area, search for the nearest vaccination locations using the online tool Vaccines.gov, then call or visit the provider’s website to make an appointment.
What is RSV?
RSV, or Respiratory Syncytial Virus, is identified as a common respiratory virus by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. RSV is an illness that most people can recover from in a week or two. However, depending on underlying conditions and other factors in an individual’s health, RSV can be serious.
Symptoms for RSV show up within four to six days of getting infected. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have identified these symptoms tied to RSV: Runny nose, decrease in appetite, coughing, sneezing, fever and wheezing.
The CDC adds that the symptoms do not appear all at once but in stages.
More severe infections can cause bronchiolitis, an inflammation of the small airways in the lung, pneumonia, and an infection of the lungs.
Is there a shot to protect against RSV?
In May 2023, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Arexvy, the first RSV vaccine for use in the United States. The vaccine manufactured by GSK plc, a British pharmaceutical company, is intended for individuals 60 and older to help prevent lower respiratory tract disease (LRTD) caused by RSV.
Since then, the FDA has approved a second vaccine, the first intended for pregnant individuals to prevent RSV in infants. Pfizer’s Abrysvo is indicated for individuals at 32 through 36 weeks of gestational age to prevent LRTD in infants from birth to 6 months of age.
What is the flu and how does it spread?
Influenza is a contagious respiratory illness that most individuals know as the flu. Aside from the typical runny nose and sore throat, infected individuals can display symptoms like fevers, body aches, fatigue and headaches.
The flu virus spreads through droplets, as described by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Most experts believe that flu viruses spread mainly by tiny droplets made when people with flu cough, sneeze, or talk,” as a blog post details on the CDC website.
If you are sick with the flu, it is good to know that individuals are most contagious in the first 3-4 days after the illness begins. The infection can be passed along to otherwise healthy adults even a day before symptoms develop and up to seven days after getting sick.
Where can I get vaccinated for the flu?
To find a flu vaccine in your area, you can search for the nearest vaccination locations using the online tool Vaccines.gov, then call or visit the provider’s website to make an appointment.