Dent County residents should be aware of the currently circulating respiratory illnesses affecting our county so they may make informed choices. Over 200 cases of COVID-19 have been reported in November and December. Influenza cases have started already as well, which is earlier than usual for Dent County.
Free Vaccines Still Available
We have a small supply of free influenza and COVID-19 vaccine. Don’t let lack of insurance stop you from being protected!
Rhinovirus
While there are no official numbers, rhinovirus (typically causes “the common cold”) is also circulating extensively. Normally we would not report this, as it is not out of the usual. However, we have received reports from individuals and healthcare providers that many individuals who have rhinovirus are “sicker” than they normally would be. Our staff will continue to monitor the situation. It should be noted that there are no reports (that we are aware of) that rhinovirus is causing severe illness requiring hospitalization, like COVID-19 and Influenza are capable of. Residents should take normal wintertime precautions for rhinovirus.
• Wash your hands
• Cover your coughs and sneezes
• Consider wearing a mask, especially when sick
There are currently no treatments or vaccines available for rhinovirus other than supportive care (antihistamines, decongestants, fever reducers, etc.).
Our 19-panel Biofire test includes a test for rhinovirus. This test costs $149 but is available without a physician order at our office.
Strep Throat
Strep throat is a common bacterial illness in children and has been prevalent in Dent County recently. It is even more common after a viral illness like COVID-19 or rhinovirus. Sometimes, viral illnesses can mimic the signs of strep throat. Strep throat is contagious and children should stay home until they have had 12-24 hours of antibiotic treatment and are fever free. A quick throat swab can detect the bacteria that causes strep throat. At our office this is $20 and no physician order is necessary.
COVID-19
Current COVID-19 hospitalization rate is about half of what it was in winter of 2021 during the Delta wave. Vaccination reduces the risk of severe illness, hospitalization, and death.
According to the CDC, as of Dec. 28, 2023, in Dent County, the COVID-19 hospital admission level is medium.
• If you are at high risk of getting very sick, wear a high-quality mask or respirator (e.g., N95) when indoors in public.
• If you have household or social contact with someone at high risk for getting very sick, consider self-testing to detect infection before contact, and consider wearing a high-quality mask when indoors with them.
• Stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines.
•Maintain ventilation improvements.
• Avoid contact with people who have suspected or confirmed COVID-19.
• Follow recommendations for isolation if you have suspected or confirmed COVID-19.
• Follow the recommendations for what to do if you are exposed to someone with COVID-19.
Variants
COVID-19 has branched off many times. Current strains are still considered to be “Omicron,” but subtypes are still tracked and the virus has mutated many times. In the course of about a month, the variant JN.1 has become the predominant strain in the United States. Current vaccines are shown to provide good protection against the variant, with possibly the strongest protection coming from the Novavax protein subunit vaccine.
Reinfection
Immunity wanes rapidly after COVID-19 infection. People are subject to reinfection after about 3 months. Immunity from vaccines wanes at a similar rate, but provides better protection and without the risk of COVID-19 itself.
Previously having COVID-19 does not mean you cannot get COVID-19 again.
Prevention
• Masking: As a virus primarily spread by aerosol and droplets, high quality masks (preferably N95s) can reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission by reducing the number of viral particles being expelled from the infected individual and reducing the number of viral particles inhaled by the healthy individual.
No mask can prevent 100% of viral particles from being transmitted, but several studies have shown that reducing the exposure (smaller number of viral particles) gives the body a greater chance of getting ahead of the infection. A larger “dose” of viral particles often leads to more severe illness. Therefore, a mask may not completely prevent you from getting COVID-19, but it will reduce your risk of severe illness if you do get it.
• Vaccination: Vaccine efficacy is variable depending on many different factors. Current vaccines will not prevent you from getting COVID-19, but they strongly reduce your risk of severe illness and death. They also reduce your risk of Long COVID, which can be severely debilitating. Vaccination is recommended for all individuals ages 6 months and over.
Long Covid
• Long COVID can include a wide range of ongoing health problems; these conditions can last weeks, months, or years.
• Long COVID occurs more often in people who had severe COVID-19 illness, but anyone who has been infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 can experience it.
• People who are not vaccinated against COVID-19 and become infected may have a higher risk of developing Long COVID compared to people who have been vaccinated.
• People can be reinfected with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, multiple times. Each time a person is infected or reinfected with SARS-CoV-2, they have a risk of developing Long COVID.
•While most people with Long COVID have evidence of infection or COVID-19 illness, in some cases, a person with Long COVID may not have tested positive for the virus or known they were infected.
• CDC and partners are working to understand more about who experiences Long COVID and why, including whether groups disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 are at higher risk.
Testing
At this time of year, it is recommended to test for COVID-19 and influenza jointly if experiencing respiratory symptoms. We offer this combination antigen test for $20 at our office without a physician order.
We can perform molecular testing as well.
Our 19-panel Biofire test includes a test for influenza A&B. This test costs $149 but is available without a physician order at our office
