respiratory illness

Press Release:

As the temperatures drop, people in our community will spend more time indoors, increasing the chance of spreading respiratory illnesses like Influenza (flu), Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), and COVID-19. 

“During the fall and winter season, we typically have more people getting sick,” said Paul Pettit, Public Health Director for the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments (GO Health), “For some people – like children, older adults, and those with underlying health conditions – these illnesses can be serious.”

There are simple ways to keep everyone healthy and small actions can make a big difference. When we work together, we protect ourselves and help protect family, friends, neighbors, and coworkers.

Tips to Stay Healthy 

1. Viruses spread easily and can change over time, so it’s important to practice good habits to limit the spread.
2. Stay away from people who are sick. 
3. If you aren’t feeling well, stay home.
4. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.
5. Wash your hands regularly with soap and water or use hand sanitizer if you can’t use soap.
6. Try not to touch your eyes, mouth, or nose.
7. Talk to your doctor about getting vaccinated and staying up-to-date on vaccinations.
8. Practice other healthy habits:
   • Clean surfaces you often touch at home, school, or work.
   • Drink plenty of water.
   • Eat healthy meals.
   • Stay active.

What to Do if You Become Sick 

If you have symptoms of an illness, like coughing, a sore throat, trouble breathing, or a fever, it is important to act quickly to help yourself and protect others. 

1. Stay home and avoid contact with others to avoid the spread of illness. 
2. Watch your symptoms closely.
3.  Seek medical advice if symptoms get worse or if you have underlying health conditions that make you more at risk.
4.  Drink lots of water.

If you have a respiratory illness, like the flu or COVID-19, you can spread it to others. How long you are contagious can vary based on how sick you are and how long you stay sick, which may be different from person to person. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that once your symptoms are better and you haven’t had a fever for 24 hours (without using fever medicine), you are usually less contagious. 

To be extra careful, wear a mask for 5 or more days after your symptoms improve. The CDC offers Respiratory Virus Guidance and continues to monitor health trends and update recommendations as needed. You can get information about the CDC Respiratory Virus Guidance Update here: Respiratory Virus Guidance Update Frequently Asked Questions.

Respiratory Disease Data 

For the Genesee and Orleans Counties Respiratory Illness Dashboard that tracks confirmed cases of flu, RSV, and COVID-19, visit: GO Health Respiratory Dashboard. It is important to note the data on this page only includes reported cases. Residents can also access our GO Health Water Analysis Dashboard to see if there has been an increase in respiratory illness activity in their town/village.

For more information on Health Department programs and services, visit GOHealthNY.org or call your local health department at:

• Genesee County: 585-344-2580 ext. 5555
• Orleans County: 585-589-3278

Follow GO Health on Facebook, Instagram and X at GOHealthNY.

Press Release:

As the colder weather starts drawing people into their homes, the windows are closed, and the heat is turned on. This creates a perfect setting for viruses that cause respiratory illnesses to spread.

“Respiratory viruses include rhinovirus (the common cold), influenza (flu), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and COVID-19. These viruses are spread from person to person by coming in contact with fluids like saliva (spit), respiratory droplets (from coughing and sneezing), or mucous from someone who is sick,” stated Brenden Bedard, Director of Community Health Services for the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments (GO Health).

“These viruses tend to mutate or change, making it difficult to destroy, making it possible to get any of these viruses more than once.” 

Generally, these viruses can be mild for most people; however, for the very young, the very old and those with weak immune systems, or underlying health condition(s), they can cause serious illness.

Daily practicing of good health precautions throughout the year can limit the spread of all respiratory illnesses. Make sure you and your family practice the following:

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick. 
• Stay home when you are sick.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing/sneezing. This may prevent those around you from getting sick. Use your elbow or shoulder to limit the spray when coughing/sneezing.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds. It is especially important to wash your hands after you have coughed or sneezed into your hands or blown your nose. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. 
• Frequently disinfect shared items, like doorknobs, phones, pens, remotes, etc. 
• Talk with your healthcare provider about being vaccinated for flu, COVID-19, RSV, and pneumonia. For information on vaccinations visit vaccines.gov.
• Practice these other health habits for general health all year:

1. Clean and disinfect touched surfaces at home, work, and school.
2. Get plenty of sleep.
3. Engage in regular physical activity. As you are able, work up to 20-30 minutes a day most days of the week.
4. Manage your stress. Read a book, chat with a friend, take a walk, etc.
5. Drink plenty of non-alcoholic fluids.
6. Eat nutritious foods.

For more information on respiratory illnesses, visit: https://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/index.html.

To access New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) COVID-19 isolation orders, visit: https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/isolation. Residents should follow the COVID-19 isolation guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/isolation.html.

For more information on Health Department programs and services, visit GOHealthNY.org or call your respective health department at:

• Genesee County: 585-344-2580 ext. 5555
• Orleans County: 585-589-3278

Follow GO Health on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at GOHealthNY.