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While some people are concerned about the bird flu, it has not yet spread from human to human, so there’s a low level of concern.
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It’s still a good idea to stay aware of the latest infectious disease outbreaks in the media.
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that everyone 6 months and older receive an updated COVID-19 vaccine this fall.
One important lesson the world learned from the COVID-19 pandemic is that it’s important to stay informed about the progression of viruses and disease outbreaks. Christa Arguinchona, RN, the manager of Providence’s Special Pathogens Program at Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane, Washington, joined the Talk With a Doc podcast to talk about how to navigate infectious diseases.
Information about the bird flu
One of the more concerning topics of conversation right now is H5N1, more commonly known as the bird flu or avian influenza. There have recently been outbreaks among poultry and dairy cows in the United States, including a few cases in humans who work with these types of animals.
“Right now, the current public health risk is low, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),” says Arguinchona. “They’re conducting influenza surveillance through wastewater and with state public health departments to see if there’s increased activity of influenza testing in people. And then, they’re just looking for any spread among people who have contact with cows or dairy herds and poultry. However, human-to-human transmission has not been demonstrated. And so, I don’t think people need to be really concerned, but they need to be aware.”
Arguinchona says she’s not overly concerned about the possibility of another pandemic right now. “However, I am very aware of what viruses are good at, which is changing and mutating,” she says. “There are ongoing research studies being performed in different universities across the country and the world, just to learn how that virus is behaving. Because if it did start to become transmitted from human to human, that could be very serious, and would put us at risk for a new pandemic.”
The latest COVID-19 recommendations
Of course, it’s hard to think about a new pandemic when we’re still reeling from COVID-19. Two new mutations, FLiRT and LB.1, which are subvariants of Omicron, are now accounting for the majority of the coronavirus cases in the United States.
“Overall, I think we’re seeing less severity of disease,” says Arguinchona. “But the signs and symptoms have really not changed — fever, chills, cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, body aches and headaches, along with congestion, runny nose, new loss of taste or smell, and nausea and vomiting.”
The CDC recommends that everyone ages 6 months and older get an updated COVID vaccine this fall to protect against the newest strains of the disease. Should you become sick with COVID, a vaccine will help you avoid debilitating symptoms, including Long Covid.
How to stay safe from viruses
While the media pays a lot of attention to new viruses such as the bird flu and COVID, Arguinchona recommends taking precautions to stay safe from any types of respiratory viruses — including the flu and the common cold.
“The top three things you can do to protect yourself are to stay up to date with your COVID and influenza vaccines, practice good hand hygiene and practice really good respiratory hygiene,” says Arguinchona. “Wash your hands with soap and water or hand sanitizer, cover your mouth when you cough and wear a mask if you're in a crowded space. You should also try to stay away from people who are sick.”
Contributing caregiver
Christa Arguinchona, RN, is the manager of the Special Pathogens Program at Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane, Washington.
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Related resources
Kids’ Respiratory Illnesses 101
Easing the burden of cold and flu season
This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Always follow your health care professional’s instructions.
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