Contributed by the Monroe County Health Department
Respiratory illnesses levels are reaching record highs at a national, state, and local level. In Monroe County, 12 residents have been hospitalized with respiratory illnesses since the beginning of 2026. It’s not too late to protect yourself against respiratory illness.
Respiratory illnesses, such as flu and COVID-19, affect your lungs and airways, making it harder to breathe. Respiratory viruses spread to others by respiratory droplets and aerosols that travel through the air when someone who is sick breathes, speaks, sings, coughs, or sneezes. These viruses can live on surfaces for many hours. Even healthy people can get very sick from respiratory illnesses.
Influenza is highly contagious and potentially fatal. There are many different strains of influenza viruses that change over time, which is why everyone 6 months and older should get the flu vaccine every year. Flu vaccines prevent severe flu symptoms, hospitalization, and death. Getting a flu vaccine is the best protection against flu infection. It’s not too late to get your flu vaccine! The Monroe County Health Department has flu vaccines available at no cost. Call us today at (608) 269-8666 to schedule an appointment.
Each year, new variants of COVID-19 emerge. Scientists are continuously updating the COVID-19 vaccine to ensure it offers the best protection from these new strains of the virus. Everyone 6 months and older should get the updated vaccine to protect against severe COVID-19 infection. Contact your physician or pharmacist to get an updated vaccine today.
In addition to vaccination, protect against infection by doing the following:
• Washing your hands often
• Covering coughs and sneezes
• Avoiding contact with others when sick
Stay up to date on respiratory illness data in Wisconsin with the DHS Respiratory Virus Activity Dashboard (www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/disease/respiratory-data.htm) and follow the Monroe County Health Department Facebook and Instagram pages for more.
