What is Respiratory Season?
With the weather changing and gatherings occurring more and more indoors the risk of respiratory illness transmission increases. What is normally seen in the Norther Hemisphere is an increase of respiratory illness’ between the months of September – April. Typically there is a peak of community transmission but this occurs at different times depending on many variables including the type of infections in circulation that year. This year it is predicted that our respiratory illness season will see an increase in the number of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), Cold, Flu and COVID-19 cases. Important to note is that the strain of COVID-19 circulating this season has a high likelihood of avoiding previous immunity due to the mutations it has undergone.
Minimizing the Risk of Illness
These illnesses include Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), Colds, Flu, and COVID-19.
When considering how best to prevent or minimize the risk of illness to ourselves and those close to us the chain of infection can help us identify areas where we prevent infections from occurring. By breaking the chain at any point, we can prevent either ourselves from becoming ill, or prevent getting those closest to us sick.
Starting in the top right corner of the diagram the “Agent” (Germs) and “Where Germs Live” (Reservoir) are difficult factors for us to control. It is true that some illness has been eradicated, such as Small Pox, but this strategy does not help us stay healthy over the next few months. We also can not remove the reservoir for respiratory infections as they replicate within us. At the same time how “Germs Get Around” (Mode of Transmission) is beyond our control. Instead we focus on what we can control:
“How Germs Get Out” (Portal of Exit)
Focusing on respiratory illness, the primary way in which they spread is through droplets. Whether saliva or mucus that are expelled when we cough, sneeze, have a runny nose or through simply talking, the germs hitch a ride out of our bodies looking for the next person to infect. How can we best minimize spreading the illness then?
- Staying home if we are feeling unwell
- Limiting the number of people we are visiting with
- The less people we are in close contact with the less likely we are to spread an illness
- Wearing a mask
“How Germs Get In” (Portal of Entry)
If we prevent germs from entering our body, we can prevent illness. The most common ways in which germs enter our body is through the mucous membranes (eyes, mouth and nose). Some of the best ways to stop germs from entering our body are:
- Hand Hygiene – by removing the germs on our hands we won’t accidently touch our eyes, nose or mouth.
- Wearing a mask
- Eye Protection
- Environmental Cleaning – cleaning high touch areas in communal settings will ensure germs aren’t living on the surfaces and passing to our hands and then from our hands to our eyes, mouth or nose.
“Next Sick Person” (Susceptible Host)
If none of the links in the chain of infection are broken and a virus or bacteria (germ) enters our body we are not guaranteed to get sick. A number of factors can help our immune system to be prepared to fight off an infection:
- Immunity to the germ (virus) because of vaccinations
- Immunity from prior infection with the same/similar germ (virus or bacteria)
- Sufficient Rest
- Proper nutrition
- Reduced Stress
There are also a number of factors that make someone more likely to become ill:
- Infants and Children
- Less developed immune system
- Elderly
- People with a weakened immune system (immune compromised)
- Lack of immunizations
- Anyone
- It is important to be aware that even if you have no risk factors you can still become sick. Our immune systems are amazing, but they are not perfect.
Keep these tips and tricks to prevent illness in mind over the coming weeks as we all look to gather with our loved ones.