Richmond, Va. (Newsradiowrva.com) - Respiratory diseases are on the rise in Virginia, following a trend that is playing out around the country. The Virginia Department of Health is warning of a "concerning" spike in Respiratory Syncytial Virus, or RSV, as well as an earlier-than-usual climb in seasonal flu case. In addition to these, COVID-19 still poses a significant, if diminished, threat.
The VDH is asking all eligible Virginians to get the bivalent COVID booster and this year's flu shot. Both of these shots can safely be received at the same time. The best line of defense against RSV, according to Lisa Sollot of the VDH, are healthy habits like covering coughs and sneezes, hand washing, and staying home when sick.
There is some concern about the US population being more at-risk for flu since fewer people have caught flu or had the vaccine in recent years, likely due to the pandemic. For that reason, health advisors are urging every eligible individual to get the flu vaccine in the coming weeks.
