Cleaner Air During Virus Season

Friends and relatives coming to visit, social gatherings and outings are great fun during the holidays. What’s not fun is the potential exposure to respiratory viruses.

Taking steps for cleaner air is one strategy, and some simple core preventions can help. If you’re having a gathering at your home, you can open windows to let as much fresh air in as possible. You can also set your air conditioner’s fan to the “on” position instead of “auto” and use pleated filters that are preferably high-efficiency HEPA filters.

If the weather is pleasant, consider holding gatherings outside on the patio. Virus particles do not build up in the outdoor air as much as indoors.

Portable room air filters, sized for the appropriate room dimensions, are another additional way to help keep air as healthy as possible. This can also help reduce pet dander and be helpful during allergy season by reducing the particulate matter.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention‘s Weekly National Summery reports the following as of November 15, 2024:

“COVID-19 activity is stable or declining in most areas. Seasonal influenza activity remains low nationally. RSV activity is elevated and continues to increase in the southern and eastern United States, particularly in young children. Respiratory infections caused by the bacterium Mycoplasma pneumoniae have continued to increase in young children in the United States.”

Flu season generally peaks in January, just after the holiday period. Now is the time to get current on flu, COVID-19, and RSV vaccinations. Remember the basics of frequent hand-washing and, if you are immunocompromised, take extra precautions when out in public.