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Respiratory illnesses surging in Mason County

Respiratory illnesses are surging in Mason County, according to the last Mason County Board of Health meeting of the year Nov. 29.

According to Public Health Officer Dr. Keri Gardner, the county is seeing high rates of influenza A, RSV and COVID-19.

“Unfortunately, this is coming at a time when for reasons that we don’t really understand, hospital occupancy rates are quite high,” Gardner said during the meeting. “So we’re asking people to continue to practice all of the things we’ve been doing over the last couple of years. Please do get vaccinated for influenza and COVID, continue to practice good hand sanitization. If you’re sick, please stay home. If you’re going out into a crowded area, consider wearing a mask, especially if you are at high risk because these respiratory viruses are so prevalent right now.”

Director of Community Services Dave Windom said there are a lack of beds not only in Mason County, but in hospitals in surrounding counties.

“This is bringing back memories of 2018,” Windom said during the meeting. “In 2018, we were sending people as far as Portland to get people into beds. As I look at not only Mason Health, but the surrounding hospitals, nobody has beds available. We’re doing really good in that we don’t have a lot of borders at Mason Health that are just occupying beds waiting for some place to go. We are tracking that on an updated basis but we don’t have a lot of wiggle room in availability of beds right now.”

Mason Health’s Chief Development and Communication Officer Jennifer Capps told the Journal in a Monday afternoon email that Mason General has beds available, according to Chief Nursing Officer Melissa Strong.

“It is true that are seeing higher patient volumes than normal, and this is also true around the region,” Capps wrote. “We have plans in place that will allow us to continue to serve our patients and community members.”

Local health officers and health care leaders are recommending wearing masks indoors, according to a Dec. 9 news release.

“Communities across our state and around the U.S. are experiencing an unprecedented surge in viral respiratory illnesses, including respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), influenza and COVID-19,” the news release states. “As health officers and health care leaders working to improve the health of Washington residents, we recommend that everyone wear a high-quality, well-fitting mask when around others in indoor spaces to protect against both acquiring and spreading these infections to others.

“In addition to RSV and influenza, new COVID-19 variants are taking hold and immunity from past vaccination is waning for many people who have not yet received an updated booster shot. The surge in these viruses is resulting in many illnesses, contributing to rising absenteeism in schools this fall. This impact extends to businesses, workers, and families.

“Working together and using multiple, layered strategies to limit the spread and impact of these viruses will provide benefits to all of us during this fall and winter respiratory virus season and help relieve serious stress on our health care system.”

No health care officials in Mason County signed onto the recommendation.

Gardner also announced money to address hepatitis C, hiring a case manager through public health and contracting with a pharmacist to provide clinical consultations.

“Mason County does a really good job of screening for hepatitis C, but unfortunately, our rates of treatment remain really low,” Gardner said. “Nationwide, it’s the same thing. Rates of treatment are low, and for many years, there has been a push to treat hepatitis C in primary-care clinics because it increases the rates of people who start treatment and complete treatment. Left untreated, hepatitis C leads to liver failure, liver cancer and death. Our public health department has been reaching out to our local health systems to provide education so they can be prepared to be treating patients in a primary care clinic and we are next going to start a public education campaign in the coming year to raise awareness of the importance of treating hepatitis C. Hepatitis C is curable and does not need to be a chronic health condition.”

At the state Department of Health media briefing Tuesday, state Secretary of Health Dr. Umair A. Shah said that while people are traveling and enjoying the holiday season, he hopes people will do it safely.

“A little prevention goes a long way,” Shah said during the briefing. “If you’re sick, especially if you’re sick, don’t expose others and please contact your health care provider for further direction.”

The state Department of Health recommends people wear masks in close or confined settings and to know what is happening in the places they go in public.

“I’m sure all of us remember throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, we saw hospitals and the health care system overwhelmed and now unfortunately, we’re seeing the surge yet again,” Shah said. “Many are calling this the triple-demic of COVID, flu, RSV, because the cause is not COVID alone, as the last couple of years. Instead, it is the intersection of multiple respiratory diseases leading to an additional strain on our health care systems’ capacity. This is the winter surge of influenza and respiratory season and that we are seeing right now, in our state, and we have to take the appropriate steps to continue to combat it.”

Shah said there are no plans at this time to bring back a mask mandate.

“I hope people will remember that our health should be our number one priority, given you cannot enjoy the holidays if you’re simply out for the count and sick,” Shah said. “Please take the precautions, please help our health care system and please continue to be safe and healthy.”

The next Mason County Board of Health meeting is scheduled for Jan. 24.

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Matt Baide, Reporter

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Shelton-Mason County Journal & Belfair Herald
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