Respiratory illnesses on the rise in Idaho

BURLEY, Idaho (KMVT/KSVT) — Local and state health officials are urging caution as respiratory illnesses are rising.

While seeing these cases this time of year is expected, the timing is slightly different.

“It’s been a really interesting year,” said Hanalees Mendenhall, the Intermountain Healthcare Cassia Regional Hospital Emergency Department Manager. “Usually, we start getting a lot more cases around October or November, but it’s been a really late year, and really, it’s just ramped up in the last couple of weeks.”

Mendenhall added that since December, they have seen more respiratory illness cases.

“When it gets cold, people go inside and everyone groups together, and these things tend to spread like wildfire when that happens,” Mendenhall said.

Mendenhall also said the illness they are seeing the most is influenza.

The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare is concerned, as the disease can spread quickly.

“Especially to our vulnerable elderly,” said Dr. Christine Hahn, the Medical Director for the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare. “We’ve already had 15 deaths reported due to influenza this season, and those have all been people over 50, and most of them have been in people 70 or older.”

Dr. Hahn added the department is worried that it will hit seniors hard in the next few weeks. She said seniors are particularly vulnerable because some already might have underlying health conditions.

“And then you have folks living together, maybe all eating in the same dining area, things like that,” Dr. Hahn said.

Small children and people with compromised immune systems are also very vulnerable to influenza and other respiratory illnesses.

Health officials want to remind people that the best way to prevent the spread of any respiratory illnesses is to wash your hands and get vaccinated. If you feel sick, avoid going to work until you get better.

Mendenhall said hospitals are also prepared if they get an uptick in people needing help, as COVID helped prepare them for those situations.

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