County reports spike in respiratory illness
By Terry Murry on Wednesday, December 7th, 2022 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
WALLA WALLA – The Walla Walla County Department of Community Health reports the current influenza wave is occurring weeks earlier and with a more rapid rate of rise than usual. For the month of November, weekly influenza cases increased from 5 to 485 in Walla Walla County. For the first three days of December, Walla Walla County had 98 cases.
Public health officials said Providence St. Mary Medical Center reports that on any given day, 10 to 20 people are in the hospital with a respiratory disease, with influenza being the leading cause.
Respiratory Syncytial Virus, commonly known as RSV, is driving increased hospitalizations and ICU admissions. RSV cases in the Pacific Northwest are double what they were a year ago. According to Providence, there have been 133 documented cases of RSV since November 1 and there has been a 20 percent increase in RSV cases over the past three weeks.
To conserve emergency services for those who need it most, Providence St. Mary Medical Center is asking people to go to the Emergency Department only if they are seriously hurt, experiencing chest pain or stroke symptoms, feel extremely ill, have trouble breathing, dizziness or have a high temperature. People with minor illnesses or injuries can receive treatment from their primary care provider or through walk-in treatment centers.
DCH recommends people get their flu shots, get vaccinated and/or boosted for COVID-19, avoid close contact with people who are sick, stay home if ill, cover coughs, wash hands frequently, and consider masking around vulnerable individuals.
