Protect yourself in the New Year | Respiratory illness reminders

||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS. |||

Each year, respiratory illnesses are responsible for millions of illnesses and thousands of hospitalizations and deaths in the United States. In addition to the virus that causes influenza (flu), there are many other types of respiratory viruses, including COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). The good news is there are actions you can take to help protect yourself and others from health risks caused by respiratory viruses.  

The best protection against respiratory illnesses is vaccination. Vaccines can prevent the worst symptoms and help keep you out of the hospital if you do become sick. If you have questions about any of the vaccines that can help prevent respiratory illness, please don’t hesitate to reach out and speak with one of our public health nurses. They are always happy to talk with you and answer any questions you may have.  Call 360-378-4474 and ask to speak with a nurse. 

Take these actions to keep you and your family safe from respiratory illnesses like influenza, COVID-19, and RSV: 

• Get vaccinated, if possible. Vaccines are your best defense against respiratory illnesses. Some people who get vaccines may still get sick. However, vaccines help reduce the severity of your illness. It will also lower the chance of hospitalization and death.   
• Stay home when you are sick. If you have any of the following symptoms, stay home until you feel better: fever, sore throat, cough, sneezing, headache, nausea and/or vomiting, and diarrhea.    
• Consider masking. If you must go out while you are sick or if you are visiting a vulnerable family member, consider wearing a well-fitting mask to protect those around you. People are considered vulnerable if they are under six months old or over sixty years old or someone who is likely to become severely ill with an illness that seems mild to others.    
• Cover your cough or sneeze. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or inside of your elbow when you cough or sneeze. Put your used tissue in the waste basket and wash your hands right away.    
• Wash your hands regularly. Use soap and water. If there is no soap available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.    
• Clean and disinfect surfaces that may be contaminated with viruses.     
• Take antiviral drugs if your doctor prescribes them.   

A Note on Bird Flu 

Bird flu is back in the headlines. The overall risk remains low to humans, but here’s a quick reminder of what you can do to keep you and your loved ones safe, whether they be human, feathered, or furred.    

Avian influenza (avian flu or bird flu) is a disease caused by an infection with avian influenza Type A viruses. A strain of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), H5N1 virus, has been detected in Washington state since 2022. These viruses occur naturally in wild aquatic birds, but can also infect poultry and other bird species, as well as wildlife and domestic animals. On rare occasions, bird flu viruses infect people and make them sick.  Bird flu infections in people are rare and usually happen after prolonged contact with infected birds or other animals while not wearing appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE).   

Here are tips to reduce your risk of infection:     

• Do not handle wild birds and animals. Observe from a distance, if possible. Wild birds can be infected with avian influenza viruses even if they don’t look sick.    
• Avoid unprotected contact with domestic birds (poultry) or other animals that may be sick, have died, or are suspected to have bird flu virus infection.    
• Do not touch surfaces that appear to be contaminated with animal feces, raw milk, litter, or other materials contaminated by birds.    
• Do not prepare or eat raw or undercooked meat or related food products, such as unpasteurized (raw) milk or raw cheeses. Highly susceptible populations are more likely than the public to develop foodborne illnesses from eating raw or undercooked foods.     
• If you have a backyard bird flock and suspect some of your birds may have avian influenza virus, take extra precautions to keep yourself safe.    
• If you are a hunter who handles wild birds, practice good hygiene to prevent any potential disease spread. Dress game birds in the field when possible. It is extremely unlikely that hunters or people feeding wild birds will contract bird flu, but following common-sense precautions is recommended to reduce the risk of contracting any wildlife disease.    

Many families choose to keep birds for many reasons. If you own poultry, knowing key prevention practices to ensure your health and the health of your family and flock is important. Biosecurity refers to the steps we can take to keep diseases away from poultry and people. For more information about how to keep your flock healthy, follow the guidelines in this poster and on this website.     

Domestic animals (like cats and dogs) are unlikely to get sick from bird flu, but there is a possibility of exposure if they contact sick or dead birds infected with bird flu viruses. There have also been cases linked to raw food. If your pet is showing signs of illness, call your vet and disclose if they have come in contact with a sick or dead wild bird or eats a raw food diet. 

Here is how to report both wild and domestic sick and dead birds:   

• Report sick/dead domestic birds using the online form, or call the Washington State Department of Agriculture’s Avian Health Program: 1-800-606-3056. Visit  Avian Influenza | Washington State Department of Agriculture for more information about how to protect backyard flocks. 
• Use an online form to report sick/dead wild birds suspected of avian influenza to the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife. 

Relevant URLs:  

• Immunization Clinics | San Juan County 
• Public Health Clinic Sliding Fee Scale | SJC 
• COVID-19 Vaccine Information | DOH 
• Flu Overview | DOH 
• Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) | DOH  

About San Juan County’s Department of Health & Community Services  

San Juan County’s Department of Health & Community Services is responsible for community and environmental health, mental health and substance abuse programs, senior services, affordable housing projects, and more. The department has staff and offices on Lopez, Orcas, and San Juan Islands. For more information about San Juan County’s Department of Health & Community Services, visit www.sanjuancountywa.gov/1777/Health-Community-Services.