Daily Herald opinion: Early flu season, COVID surge remind us to keep up our guard

Sometimes, it's hard to know whether the COVID-19 pandemic improved our vigilance against viral flu - we are, after all, more attuned to news of flu outbreaks now and hear more about them - or dulled us to the disease - our heightened awareness notwithstanding, COVID fatigue has many people ignoring the precautions we've all become so familiar with and even resisting or delaying potentially life-preserving vaccinations.

Just for the record, let's be reminded that the former condition is by far the best - for each of us individually and for all of us collectively. And, as the party- and family gathering-filled year-end holidays descend, it's an important time to remember the precautions we should take against any flu and must not forget or ignore with COVID-19.

The Associated Press last week described a Centers for Disease Control report finding an unusually high level of traditional flu already surging throughout the nation. It's a worrisome trend, especially for the elderly and for children, who are experiencing an onslaught of a particular flu strain called respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, that is contributing to 3,000 hospital admissions a day.

"I tell parents that COVID was the ultimate bully. It bullied every other virus for two years," said Dr. Mark Griffiths, ER medical director of a Children's Health Care of Atlanta downtown hospital. As COVID rates stabilize, other viruses are "coming back full force," he said.

Yet, COVID rates themselves are nothing to ignore.

Our Marni Pyke reported on Friday that November COVID-19 case counts in Illinois are up nearly 18% compared to October, and hospitalizations are up just under 10%.

Compared to what we have lived with in the past, numbers like these may not feel alarming, but they certainly should not escape our attention.

It is common these days to hear health professionals remind us that "COVID-19 is still here" and urge continued diligence to ward off the disease. It may be just as important to also remember that the "routine" flu never went away, either.

We all know personally and only too well the inconvenience and discomfort of fighting a flu epidemic. It's a situation no one wants to repeat, so in the interest of ourselves and others, let's take time at the launch of the holiday season to remember key lessons of the past three years that apply to any flu season - wash your hands regularly, cover your mouth when you sneeze, keep your distance from others, wear a mask when you attend gatherings where you could catch the disease or pass it along to someone who is especially vulnerable and get vaccinated against both the seasonal flu and COVID-19.

The COVID-19 pandemic has made us all more aware of the flu and how to prevent it than we've likely ever been. Fighting it, let's admit, also has worn us out. But being sick of constantly dealing with disease is a mere discomfort compared to getting it or passing it on.

Keep up your guard. Take precautions. Be considerate of others. Stay healthy.

Still.