This is flu and COVID season

The county is in the middle of flu and COVID season and so it was appropriate that the Eufaula Area Chamber of Commerce invite a speaker to its monthly membership meeting to discuss the two illnesses.

Daniel Ortiz, epidemiologist with the Oklahoma Department of Health, addressed Chamber members at Dobber’s Restaurant on SH 9 east.

Ortiz explained that COVID has gone from being a pandemic to an epidemic to becoming endemic – part of a group of illnesses now taken for granted, along with the flu and RSV (Respiratory syncy- tial virus).

All three respiratory illnesses are contagious, but there are inoculations available and protocols to follow that can lessen the severity of the infections.

“As of May 11, 2023 Health and Human Services has classified COVID as endemic,” said Ortiz, who covers an eight-county area that includes McIntosh. “Now we are accepting that COVID is what we might get during this respiratory illness season – but it is not expected to overwhelm hospitals or cause the chaos it did previously.”

He said the county health departments still do testing and give vaccinations.

COVID cases are increasing in this county, as well as the state.

“As you would expect this time of the year,” he said. “Within the East Central region there is a moderate level of COVID, but it is manageable. Hospitals, ICUs and emergency departments are not being overwhelmed.”

McIntosh County has a “medium level” of COVID cases.

“At this point we’re not looking at the number of COVID infections to how much COVID we have in neighborhoods and communities – we’re more looking at the COVID burden on the health care infrastructure.”

For more information, Ortiz said it is available on the websites of the CDC (Center for Disease Control) and the Oklahoma Department of Health.

He urged people to get their shots.

“Prior to 2019, due to the flu vaccine seven million flu illnesses were averted; as were three million flu-caused medical visits and 100,000 hospitalizations and 7,000 flu-associated deaths,” Ortiz said.

Vaccines work. He listed other precautions people should take to avoid flu, or to lessen its intensity, including frequent washing of your hands and surfaces frequently touched by hands, such as counter tops and cell phones.

“Statistics show that one out of six children with diarrhea could be prevented with handwashing,” he said.

Also, cover your mouth and nose when sneezing and coughing; use hand sanitizers; avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.

Good health habits, getting enough to eat, a good diet, exercise, managing your level of stress, and keeping your distance from those who show signs of a respiratory illness are other ways to stay healthy.

Older people, 65 and up, and children, six and under, are among the most vulnerable this time of year.

So are those with immune deficiencies.

RSV has been in the news a lot lately because of a vaccine created to combat the disease.

“It has kind of always been there, but a new RSV shot was just authorized,” he said.