Season’s Greetings!

The winter holiday season is here! It has snuck up quickly on the heels of Thanksgiving, although the wintry weather has been a good reminder! Sadly, world news feels less than celebratory, but I hope everyone can find some space for solace and celebration among family and friends in the coming weeks. And may we all extend kindness and care to those among us who may not have anyone as well as those going through difficult times during this season.

Wishing you and yours happy holidays!
Linnea

Respiratory and Other Viral News

Influenza “flu” infections are ticking up, now at a high level. There is a new variant of concern that may play more of a role in infections this season as well. If you or someone in your household is at increased risk of complications from flu, I would encourage vaccination as soon as possible (and keep in mind, flu vaccination is available to anyone who wants it.)

COVID-19 infections are anticipated to rise over the winter months as well.

Norovirus is also circulating. It’s a gastrointestinal viral infection that is highly contagious. Getting into the habit of good hand-washing practices are important to prevent spread.

If you want to keep track of the data that is available regarding respiratory viruses, Massachusetts Department of Public Health tracks trends of respiratory illness here, including data on COVID-19 cases.

Here are the general management guidelines for respiratory viruses, including COVID-19. Of note, these new guidelines do not apply to medical facilities, hospitals, and clinics.

If you come down with symptoms of COVID-19 or Influenza, please alert me. Paxlovid is still recommended for treatment of COVID-19 for those in higher risk categories.

Of course, if you or a loved one are in a high-risk category, consider taking extra precautions. General guidelines for prevention can be found here.

Also, you can contribute to accurate data collection for COVID-19 and Flu by reporting your test results.

Happy Holidays!! Happy 2026!!