MOSES LAKE — Winter is here – as of Dec. 21 it was official - and so is one of its faithful companions, flu season. The Grant County Health District announced the beginning of “respiratory virus” season Friday. 

It’s the respiratory virus season because there’s more than just flu out there, according to the GCHD press release. There are benchmarks that indicate when respiratory virus season actually arrives.  

“Influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) activity in Grant County and across the region has been increasing and recently exceeded respiratory illness seasonal thresholds. COVID-19 activity has remained below the threshold,” the press release said. 

Alexander Brzezny, the health officer for Grant and Adams counties, told the Adams County Board of Health in mid-December that flu is making its appearance nationally.  

Colds were the most common respiratory illness throughout the fall, Brzezny said, but influenza cases started increasing by early December, both locally and nationally. 

“We are starting to reach the epidemic levels as of Week 49, I think, in the United States, and we certainly have seen that in Adams County as well,” he said.  

As of mid-December, most of the cases nationally were the Influenza A strain, he said.  

“Influenza is around, and I think (the data) gives us enough information to say the respiratory season in our region has begun,” Brzezny said. 

The trend is statewide, the GCHD release said. 

“(Flu and) RSV have been the fastest rising viruses in Washington for several weeks,” the release said. “Most areas of the country are experiencing a steady increase in influenza-like illness activity.”  

 COVID-19 activity was relatively low in the Pacific Northwest. 

“We don’t see much COVID, not as much as we did, but there is some COVID around,” Brzezny said. 

Most people are not at risk for serious complications from flu, but it does kill some people every year. 

“To date three flu-associated deaths have been reported in Washington state,” the GCHD press release said. “No flu-related deaths have been reported in Grant County this season.” 

People can reduce their risk of getting respiratory illness by washing their hands frequently and staying home when they feel sick.  

“Healthcare facilities should begin implementing enhanced measures to reduce the spread of respiratory viruses,” the GCHD release said. “This may include patient screening and the use of face masks in healthcare facilities.” 

The guidelines for the COVID-19 virus were changed in March and now are similar to other respiratory viruses. 

People who are sick with a respiratory virus should stay home for at least 24 hours after their symptoms have improved. Their fever should be gone for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications, the press release said.  

People should wash their hands frequently. 

Vaccination for flu is recommended for most people over 6 months of age. The updated version of the COVID-19 vaccine also is recommended for people 6 months of age and older. People 65 years of age and older, and people with compromised immune systems, should get a second COVID-19 dose six months after the first, the press release said. 

The RSV vaccine is recommended for people 75 and older, and for babies born during RSV season. Women between 32 and 36 weeks of pregnancy can get the vaccine to protect their babies, the release said.