With the holiday season approaching, Wisconsin health officials are urging residents to prepare for a likely rise in respiratory illnesses. The Department of Health Services reports that colder weather, increased travel, and family gatherings typically lead to more cases of flu and other respiratory viruses this time of year. With flu activity already increasing overseas, DHS is closely tracking trends and has expanded wastewater testing and updated its public data dashboards.
Respiratory Disease Epidemiologist Tom Haupt reminds residents that now is an ideal time to get vaccinated. He notes that getting a vaccine takes less than 30 minutes—far less time than missing work, school, or holiday celebrations due to illness.