These days, the question “Cold or flu?” doesn’t quite cover it when we start coughing and sneezing in the fall or winter.
COVID-19 is still here, and we also have to deal with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), in addition to pneumonia, bronchitis, and sinus infections, and even bird flu is starting to take hold in some parts of the world.
The good news is, even if we can’t immediately tell these respiratory illnesses apart, the steps we can take to reduce the chances of spreading them apply broadly, namely hand-washing, staying home when sick, masking when symptomatic, and, most importantly for some of the viruses, vaccination.
When we think about respiratory viruses, really vaccines are becoming a critical part of our toolkit in preventing infections, particularly among those who are at the highest risk for more severe infections. — Dr. David Banach
UConn Health infectious diseases experts Nancy Dupont and Dr. David Banach explain on the UConn Health Pulse podcast.
