Health Department’s Tips for Navigating Cold and Flu Season
ZANESVILLE, OH – With the Christmas season in full swing and the cold and flu season reaching its peak, the Zanesville Muskingum County Health Department provided tips to help the public stay healthy during this festive time.
The department strongly recommends vaccination as a primary defense against the flu and COVID. Getting your vaccine is especially important this season, as it not only protects yourself, but also reduces the spread of the virus during holiday gatherings.
“It’s important to stay up to date on your vaccines. We have a vaccine for flu, for RSV, and for COVID. It’s important to consider getting those to protect yourself. We also know in particular with COVID, you can be asymptomatically infected or have symptoms of a mild cold, yet it could be COVID. It may not bother you much, but it might bother your mother, your aunt, your grandmother or your neighbor who’s immunocompromised,” Zanesville Muskingum County Health Department Medical Director, Jack Butterfield said.
To further prevent illness, the Health Department advises avoiding touching your eyes, nose, and mouth. These are common pathways for viruses to enter the body.
“Stay home when you’re sick. Wash your hands frequently. Don’t touch your eyes, nose, and mouth when you’re out in public because many times that’s how the virus enters your system. And stay away from people with respiratory illnesses,” Butterfield said.
To get vaccinated, you can make an appointment at the Health Department or walk-in.
