STAY IN THE GAME
3 moves to Beat the big 3; RSV, Flu, Covid
RSV, Covid and Influenza! The triple threat that tries to sideline you every year. Fortunately we have the perfect game plan. Three proven steps to keep you healthy and active! Stay home when you’re sick, practice good hands, nose and mouth hygiene , and get immunized. DEFENSE!
1
Stay Home When Sick
If you're feeling unwell or experiencing symptoms of a respiratory illness, stay home to prevent spreading the virus to others.
2
Practice Hand, Mouth, & Nose Hygiene
Wash hands with soap for 20 seconds after coughing, sneezing, or touching public surfaces. Use 60% alcohol hand sanitizer if needed. Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or elbow, dispose of tissues, and wash hands immediately.
3
Get Immunized
Immunization against COVID, RSV, and the FLU can greatly reduce the risk of getting infected and getting really sick. Visit the Community Immunization Clinic Calendar at WCPH to view respiratory illness immunization options this Fall.
Community Activity Levels
Activity Level Threshold Calculation Methodology
Disease activity level thresholds for COVID-19, influenza, and RSV are calculated using the Moving Epidemic Method (MEM). The epidemic threshold is calculated at the start of the respiratory season using data from the previous five seasons. Because COVID-19 is a new disease that started transmission in 2020 and does not yet have a clear seasonal pattern, the MEM multiple wave algorithm was used to classify waves. To calculate the epidemic threshold for COVID-19 for the 2023-24 season, we used data from February 2020 to September 2023. To calculate the transmission alert thresholds for influenza and RSV for the 2023-24 season, we used data from the following seasons: 2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20, and 2022-23. We excluded the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons because of the COVID-19 pandemic. As our understanding of respiratory viruses continues to grow, we will re-evaluate and update our methods using newer scientific methods as they become available. Because the COVID-19 threshold was calculated from pandemic levels of disease, the threshold will change over time as disease levels change and become more endemic.
| Condition | Status | Current Week (8.4.24-8.10.24) | Illness Activity Level Threshold* |
|---|---|---|---|
|
COVID-19 |
Low |
2.70% |
4.00% |
|
Influenza |
Low |
0.00% |
1.20% |
|
RSV |
Low |
0.00% |
0.30% |
* When the percent of ED visits for a virus is above its activity level threshold, it is a sign that there is increased spread of that virus.
You can view past and current percent of ED levels in Whitman County for Respiratory Illness (Flu, COVID, & RSV) at the "Disease Activity for Whitman County" dashboard below.