205 W 5th Ave Ellensburg, WA 98926-2887
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Kittitas (pronounced 'KITT-i-tass') County is located in central Washington State. It spans from the lush forested Cascade Mountains to the upper Yakima River Valley plains and the Columbia River.
Kittitas County, WA - 10/11/2023 - Respiratory virus season is here. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC), fall and winter are a time when viruses that cause respiratory disease usually circulate more heavily in the community. Many people might call this flu season, but the season now includes the virus COVID-19 in addition to the seasonal flu and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
All three of those viruses have vaccines available. Vaccinations are the best way to prevent severe disease and protect yourself and others (CDC). Talk to a trusted medical provider about vaccinations. More information is available via www.doh.wa.gov and www.cdc.gov. This year, The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) has a respiratory illness data dashboard. The dashboard shows disease activity for COVID-19, seasonal influenza, and RSV. The dashboard is available at Respiratory Illness Data Dashboard | Washington State Department of Health. Surveillance of respiratory illnesses is not new. If you visit DOH Influenza Surveillance Data | Washington State Department of Health you can review season information from 2009 to the last season summary of 2021-22. There is also a weekly influenza update. Vaccines are made to fight the specific strains of disease. Seasonal flu, for example, is updated every year. Check out FDA's Critical Role in Ensuring Supply of Influenza Vaccine | FDA if you want to read more about that process. The COVID-19 vaccine will also be updated to provide the best protection on an annual basis. To read more about respiratory virus updates, check out CDC Respiratory Virus Updates | CDC. Updated COVID-19 vaccine recommendations are also available at Updated COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendations Now Available | CDC. To prevent certain respiratory viruses, get vaccinated if you can. Additional actions will help you and your family safe including:
Kittitas County, from the Cascades to the Columbia, and online at http://www.co.kittitas.wa.us
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Contact: Kasey Knutson, Public Information Officer, (509) 962-7515