Cold temperatures have finally hit the Raccoon Valley Radio listening area, and many have fallen ill with something, or are preparing in case they do.

Guthrie County Health Services Director Jotham Arber explains that the increase in cases is normal at this time.

“Every year when we get into the season, when we start getting from that hot to the cold to the, you know, the fake winters, fake summers, then we finally get into the cold, we always see an uptick in just a lot of different things. Specifically respiratory season hits us during this period.”

Arber mentions that it’s at this time that influenza, Covid-19 and Respiratory Syncytial Virus, or RSV, begin to climb, and affect people more frequently, especially outdoor sporting events still taking place despite the cold. He says that RSV is something that the Public Health Department pays extra attention to, because it affects the children and elderly more than others, and can cause major issues. Arber adds that there is a vaccine now for RSV, and that it will be available in Guthrie County, along with vaccines for influenza and Covid-19. He mentions that he suggests taking those inoculations, especially for children and the elderly.