Keeping Infants and Older Adults Safe from RSV this Holiday Season
Over the course of the next month and a half, families and friends across Alaska will gather together for holiday traditions. As you know, COVID-19 is still a concern in our state, and best practices like washing your hands, testing before spending time together, and ensuring folks are up-to-date with their vaccinations are still tried and true methods for keeping you and your loved ones safe.
However, there are a couple more things that are particularly important this year to protect infants and older adults. A common respiratory virus called RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection) is running rampant in Alaska right now, filling many of our hospitals with children that are sick. The infection is not new, and is in fact so common that most children have already been exposed to it by age 2. According to the CDC, RSV "usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms. Most people recover in a week or two, but RSV can be serious, especially for infants and older adults. RSV is the most common cause of bronchiolitis (inflammation of the small airways in the lung) and pneumonia (infection of the lungs) in children younger than 1 year of age in the United States."
What You Can Do if You Have a Child/ Grandparent Coming Over for a Gathering
Fortunately, if you're already taking COVID-19 and flu precautions like washing your hands, covering your mouth, and staying away from others if you are sick, you're in good shape to protect both babies and grandparents. However, there are a few RSV-specific things you can do to prevent the spread and keep our most vulnerable Alaskans safe.
One important thing to note is that, unlike COVID-19, RSV can stay and live on surfaces, meaning that it's more important than ever to wipe frequently touched surfaces like doorknobs and mobile devices. Discourage friends and family from touching babies without a thorough handwashing, and avoid kissing babies to prevent the spread. It's also important to ensure that you're not sharing utensils with a child.
Let's keep our gatherings safe this year by doing everything in our power to prevent the spread of the flu, COVID-19, and RSV.
Thank you for helping us keep Alaska's most vulnerable safe and healthy. We at ACT hope you and your family enjoy meaningful time together, wonderful food, and a chance to come together to bridge differences and build a brave space at your table with Alaska's children in mind.