With Respiratory Infections Rampant, Experts Urge Masking and Vaccination

During one of the most active flu seasons in recent memory, infectious disease experts at Fred Hutch Cancer Center say many of the public health lessons learned during the COVID-19 epidemic still apply: wear well-fitting masks in crowded indoor poorly ventilated spaces, practice good hand hygiene and get vaccinated. There are three vaccines available to protect against respiratory viruses: flu, COVID-19 and RSV. And no, it’s not too late to get vaccinated this season.

“This is one of the busiest flu seasons in a decade if not longer,” said Steven Pergam, MD, MPH, medical director of infection prevention at Fred Hutch. “There is lots of flu out there and a number of early reported deaths.”

In February, local hospitals saw a higher volume of patients with flu compared to what was…

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