FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) — It’s that time of the year when people start to bring out the holiday decorations.
With families getting ready to welcome in the season, there is also the risk of getting sick. Whether it’s from the flu, RSV, or COVID.
“The viruses thrive when people are gathered,” said Leticia Berber with the Fresno County Department of Public Health.
Nationwide, the CDC reports respiratory illness levels remain low for now. In the Central Valley, Fresno County health leaders say, flu activity remains low as well.
But last year saw a severe flu season.
“We actually had flu cases going all the way through May into the spring when it was already warming back out,” said Dr. Kenny Banh, an Emergency Medicine Physician with UCSF Fresno.
“Sometimes that actually influences it, but it’s not totally predictive. But you see, like a late flu season sometimes and why we haven’t had an uptick early on this year.”
Doctors say it’s after the big holiday get-togethers that they see a spike in people getting sick.
That’s why they’re urging the community to take the necessary steps to keep themselves and their loved ones safe, as they make those holiday plans.
That means making sure we’re up to date on all our vaccines.
Fresno County Health leaders say it’s not too late to get yourself protected.
“It takes about two weeks for the vaccine to become active in your body,” said Berber. “So you want to take action right away.”
Doctors add that getting vaccinated not only boosts our immunity but also protects those around us.
“We sometimes forget that really, vaccines have a couple different roles,” said Dr. Banh, “and one of those roles is actually to control the infection rate in the community.”
This can also help prevent local hospitals from becoming overwhelmed during an already busy season.
For news updates, follow Ana Torrea on Facebook, X and Instagram.
Copyright © 2025 KFSN-TV. All Rights Reserved.