TYLER, Texas (KLTV) – As the festive season wraps up, East Texas medical professionals are bracing for a familiar post-holiday surge in upper respiratory illnesses.
The CDC anticipates a rise in viruses like the flu, COVID-19, and RSV, along with strep throat, as people return to their regular work, school, and daily routines.
Dr. Jane Ragland of CHRISTUS Health notes a recognizable pattern. “We are seeing a little flu, a little COVID, a little RSV, and a ton of strep,” she explained.
The CDC highlights this time of year as prime for the spread of respiratory viruses, and this season is no different.
Crowded holiday gatherings, combined with colder weather pushing people indoors, create ideal conditions for germs to spread rapidly. Dr. Ragland points out, “Around the holidays you are around more people, so you spread more versus when you’re sick and you stay home during the holidays, you may not stay home.”
While most upper respiratory illnesses can be managed at home, Dr. Ragland advises seeking medical attention for specific warning signs.
These include trouble breathing, persistent fever, or symptoms that do not improve after several days.
People with underlying health conditions, such as asthma or diabetes, should contact their healthcare provider if their conditions worsen while sick.
To help reduce the spread of these viruses, the CDC recommends frequent handwashing, staying home when sick, and staying up-to-date on vaccinations. The agency also reminds parents that young children, older adults, and individuals with weakened immune systems face the highest risk for severe illness.
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