COVID, flu, RSV triple threat. What Tri-Cities needs to know

Annette Cary
·4 min read

The worst of the respiratory illness season in the Tri-Cities may be past, but people are still getting sick, according to data from the Benton Franklin Health District.

Deaths also continue to be reported, particularly in the most vulnerable.

People who are at risk of getting seriously ill or dying from COVID, influenza or RSV should be diligent, said Heather Hill, Benton-Franklin Health District’s deputy to the health officer and a public health nurse.

Hospital policies

Kadlec Regional Medical Center in Richland now requires caregivers at its hospital and clinics who provide direct patient care to wear masks due to respiratory virus rates for COVID, influenza and RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus.

Patients and visitors are not required to wear masks, but it is highly encouraged.

Trios Health in Kennewick and Lourdes Health in Pasco have not experienced a significant increase in respiratory illnesses and do not have a masking requirement, said Tina Baumgardner, spokesperson for both.

However, both Trios and Lourdes continue to encourage staff and patients to use masks.

Influenza

The Tri-Cities area has more influenza now than a year ago at the same time.

The latest available data for Benton and Franklin counties shows 0.9% of hospital patients during the last week of January had flu, compared with 0.3% a year ago.

The Tri-Cities area may be past the peak of the fall and winter respiratory illness season, but cases of COVID, flu and RSV linger.
The Tri-Cities area may be past the peak of the fall and winter respiratory illness season, but cases of COVID, flu and RSV linger.

However, that is down from 3.8% of patients in Benton and Franklin county hospitals about six weeks ago.

Statewide, influenza was listed as “moderate” by the Washington state Department of Health as of the end of January, down from a rating of “high” at the end of December.

Just 29.3% of state residents have received at least one dose of the flu vaccine this fall and winter.

The state Department of Health says that 50 people, including one child, are known to have died from the flu during the current respiratory illness season. All but eight of the deaths were in people 50 and older.

The first flu death of the season in the state this fall and winter was a Franklin County woman in her 70s, the Tri-Cities based health district reported in early November.

COVID

Just under 2% of hospital patients in the last week of January in Benton and Franklin counties had COVID-19, according to data posted by the Benton Franklin Health District.

That’s down from 4.2% the same week a year ago and 2.8% in early November of the current respiratory illness season.

Just under 100 positive COVID tests were reported in the last week of January for all of Benton and Franklin counties, compared to 171 a year ago.

However, most people rely on home test kits, and positive test results are typically only reported by health care providers.

The Washington state Department of Health reports 41 COVID deaths from Jan. 14-20, the most current data available. That compares to 40 deaths in the same week a year ago and 303 for the same week two years ago.

Just 17.3% of all residents in the state are up to date on all COVID vaccines recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 people in Washington state.
COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 people in Washington state.

RSV

The percentage of patients hospitalized in Benton and Franklin counties who have RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus, has declined from 0.9% of patients during the first week of January to 0.3% during the last week.

The Washington state Department of Health reports half as many hospital admission statewide for patients with RSV than for influenza currently.

It says 47 people have died from RSV in the state this fall and winter.

Protecting against illness

It’s not too late in the respiratory illness season to get vaccinated against flu and COVID, Hill said.

A new RSV vaccine also is available and recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for adults age 60 and older.

A look at COVID-19 vaccine doses in Washington state.
A look at COVID-19 vaccine doses in Washington state.

The CDC recommends a single dose of RSV vaccine for pregnant women from week 32 through week 36 of pregnancy, which can prevent RSV in their infants up to 6 months. Preventive antibodies for infants is another option.

People should ask their doctors for more information.

People at highest risk of respiratory illnesses, such as older adults and those with chronic illnesses, may choose to wear a mask in crowded locations or to avoid crowds — shopping when stores are less busy, for instance.

Washing hands often and thoroughly and keeping your hands away from your nose and mouth also can help prevent a respiratory illness. Covering your cough and staying home when sick can help prevent the spread of a respiratory virus.