The holiday season is a time when families and friends will gather for food and fellowship.
However, it's also a time when viruses can thrive and the risk of respiratory illnesses increase. While COVID-19 and flu cases are not as rampant, they are still out there, but so are cases of RSV, especially in children.
Danielle Acuna knows they're lucky this year to spend the holidays with loved ones, but still, they're choosing to stay cautious after her girls got sick earlier this year.
"Yes, but they just got their flu shots so they're good!" Acuna said.
Sarah Deleon and Nancy Sulik are also excited to for a house full of company next week. They still remember how the pandemic prevented them and so many other families from coming together.
"Glad that's over, to have family over again," Deleon said.
Deleon said that doing everyday tasks often came with an extra layer of caution.
"Even going to the grocery story got to be cautious, clean your cart, especially when we are around the elderly because whatever we have we are going to take it to them," Deleon said.
Flu season is creeping up, with numbers in Texas already rising as COVID-19 cases are still popping up. However, its another virus that doctors have on their radar this season, and that is RSV, a respiratory illness mostly seen in children.
"This year it's a little different because now we call it a triple whammy, means you have COVID, we have RSV, the flu you can imagine how many things you can duck, you may be able to duck one but get hit by the second or third one," said Pulmonary expert Dr. Salim Surani.
The latest information from Texas Health and Human Services shows RSV has significantly increased in the state, overwhelming hospitals in Fort Worth. Here in South Texas, the numbers are also up.
"The name itself says it will involve your respiratory system and one of the key thing is they unusually start from the top, runny nose, upper respiratory symptoms, sometimes when that can also involve the lower respiratory track," Surani said.
Surani said that residents can still enjoy the holidays, but to also be mindful when participating in large gatherings.
"Even my kids are coming home, we love it, coming from different places, towns, cities, and when they are there they maybe having a different conditions, strains of viruses. flu in one area, RSV in another area, they make the bug as a family bug," Surani said.
Whether it's protecting yourself and your loved ones from RSV, COVID-19, or the flu, doctors said they can be preventable through vaccinations and good hygiene habits.
"The hand washing is a key thing if you are sick or showing symptoms avoid the big gathering wear a mask, avoid going in a public place, that's the key thing," he said.
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