News & Announcements

RESPIRATORY VIRUSES......

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic four years ago, there has been a gradual reduction in the frequency and severity of COVID-19.   While it is still an important public health threat, it is no longer the emergency that it once was, and its health impacts are much closer to those of other longstanding respiratory viral illnesses. Therefore, the CDC has provided updated guidance for all respiratory illness in general, and does not single out COVID-19 as a predominant virus over others.

The updated guidance focused on steps to prevent spread when you and your child are sick rather than on finding out a specific virus that is causing symptoms. This approach is more like our pre-pandemic state when we did not typically know what specific virus was the source of a particular infection.  

Unlike early in the pandemic when COVID-19 was nearly the only respiratory virus causing illness, it is now one of many, including influenza, RSV, adenoviruses, rhinoviruses, enteroviruses, human metapneumovirus, parainfluenza virus, and other common human coronaviruses. The CDC is focusing guidance on the core measures that provide the most protection across respiratory viruses. The updated guidance emphasizes the importance of staying home and away from others when sick from respiratory viruses, regardless of the virus, as well as additional preventive actions.



The goal is reduce your contact with others when your child is the most likely to be contagious. For most viruses, this period is from the onset of symptoms until your child is BOTH fever free for (without the use of fever reducing medication) AND having improvement in symptoms for AT LEAST 24 HR. After that period, it still takes more time for the body to fully get rid of a virus, so it is still possible to spread the germ. Therefore, there are additional strategies advised for the next 5 days. 

Please check out the CDC's general information page on Respiratory Viruses for additional information.


Should you have any questions that are not answered by the resources above, feel free to call our office or contact us via electronic message using the patient portal.  Please remember to always call the office for urgent issues as messages on the patient portal are not routinely checked when we are closed.

(Originally created 04/09/2024)