Where does Whatcom County stand with COVID, colds and flu amid holiday gatherings?
Whatcom County is seeing a “significant” rise in respiratory illnesses just as holiday gatherings are getting underway.
Both influenza and respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, are above a “transmission alert threshhold” on a new local reporting system that started last week, the Whatcom County Department of Health and Community Services said in a statement.
COVID-19, however, remains below alert status, accord to the new reporting system, called the Respiratory Virus Data Dashboard.
That “dashboard” allows anyone to check the status of respiratory virus transmission locally and make their own health decisions. It also allows health-care providers to decide if they want to start masking requirements for employees and/or patients, the Health Department said at its website.
Data is updated weekly on Wednesdays for influenza, RSV and COVID-19.
Though flu and RSV are rising, cases are far below the “triple-demic” levels seen at this time last year, said Dr. Greg Thompson, one of Whatcom County’s two health officers.
“So far this winter we are seeing influenza and RSV in our community at elevated rates in a pattern that is more typical for the season,” Thompson told The Bellingham Herald in an email.
RSV is an infection that could cause severe illness in infants and those older than 60, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“The good news is that we have protective vaccines that can reduce a lot of suffering. This year’s flu vaccine is a good match for the currently circulating flu strains. For the first time, there is an RSV vaccine available for older adults and pregnant persons to reduce the likelihood of serious illness in themselves or their infants. There is also an RSV immunization available for infants that are at high risk. If you haven’t already, it’s not too late for vaccination to protect you or vulnerable loved ones,” Thompson said.
St. Joseph Medical Center in Bellingham is seeing a “moderate increase across the board in respiratory infections,” hospital spokeswoman Anne Williams told The Herald on Thursday.
There were 12 patients with COVID-19, including one pediatric patient; three patients with influenza and for patients with RSV, including one pediatric patient, Williams said in an email.
The Health Department’s new data website gathers information from the North Sound region, which includes Island, San Juan, Skagit, Snohomish and Whatcom counties. Separate data for Whatcom County is included.
“We have developed this tool to make it easier for individuals and healthcare facilities to make choices to protect their health or the health of their patients,” said Dr. Amy Harley, the county’s other health office .
“The respiratory dashboard will indicate when we have community spread of these viruses and people may want to take additional precautions during that time. There are simple precautions people can take to reduce the spread of these viruses like wearing a mask, washing their hands, and staying home if sick,” Harley said at the Health Department website.
