With the holiday season approaching, Wisconsin health officials are warning that colder weather, increased travel, and more indoor gatherings could lead to a rise in respiratory illnesses. The state Department of Health Services says it is tracking trends closely, noting increased flu activity overseas and the potential for a more severe flu season here at home.
DHS has expanded wastewater testing for respiratory viruses and updated its online dashboards to help residents monitor levels of flu, COVID-19, and RSV across the state. Health experts say the data consistently show respiratory illnesses increasing in late fall and early winter — a reason to get vaccinated before holiday events.
Last season, flu-related hospitalizations in Wisconsin jumped more than 200 percent from late December to late January, right after the holidays. So far this year, about 23 percent of residents have received a flu shot, and just 9 percent have gotten the updated COVID-19 vaccine, with vaccination rates among young children and older adults still lagging.
Health officials recommend flu and COVID-19 vaccines for everyone six months and older, as well as RSV vaccines or antibody protection for eligible seniors, pregnant individuals, and young children. They also remind anyone who becomes sick over the holidays to stay home until symptoms improve and fever has been gone for at least 24 hours.
More information and data can be found on the Wisconsin DHS website.
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