MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Officials from the Monongalia County Health Department are reporting a “tridemic,” a wave of COVID-19, RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) and flu cases filling hospital beds and care facilities. As the holidays approach, Monongalia County Health Department officials are urging residents to follow healthy habits during the gathering season.
“We’ve seen an increase lately over the last several weeks, with RSV hitting hard in the area,” said Monongalia County Health Department Infection Control Epidemiology Nurse Ed Abbott on WAJR’s “Talk of the Town. “Which is kind of bottlenecking the hospital system, we’ve seen an increase in our flu cases and it’s been more prevalent here in the past two weeks and COVID is on the rise,” he said.
Since Nov. 28, active coronavirus cases have increased from 45 to 67, according to the DHHR. Additionally, the new WVU Medicine Children’s Hospital has struggled to find space for RSV patients.
Abbott said the recommendations are all very easy to remember from the height of the pandemic.
“Avoid contact with sick people, good hand hygiene, wash your hands for at least twenty minutes with soap and water, avoid touching your face with unwashed hands,” said Abbott on the best measures county residents can take. “You know with the RSV, it’s limiting the time they spend in childcare centers or potentially contagious settings,” he said.
If anyone believes they have any of the three viruses, Abbott said to seek a medical diagnosis as soon as possible to determine what treatment options are available. If you know you are sick, you should exclude yourself from holiday gatherings to prevent virus spread.
“The symptoms are, you know, common cold symptoms for the most part and you could be contagious two days before you start developing symptoms,” said Abbott on the need to avoid physical contact if you’re sick. “So you know with RSV, you’re usually contagious for three to eight days,” he said.
Each of the strains, with the exception of COVID-19 if you’re not vaccinated, is easily treatable with over-the-counter medicines and rest. Even though the risk for serious health concerns is low, Abbott asks to make sure all the proper precautions are taken before you wait in line at the emergency room or put others at risk of getting sick during holiday get-togethers.
“If you’re not feeling well, you know, avoid travel, avoid gathering with people,” said Abbott. “Call your primary care doctor or pediatrician, speak with them first, it’s symptomatic treatment, any of our local pharmacies here can provide you with some of the best information on what kind of medicine to treat the symptoms,” he said.