Flu, COVID, RSV and colds in Knox County: What You Need to Know

Tammy Nelson, LPN and Communicable Disease Coordinator, and Erin Olson, Director of Public Health Information and Community Engagement at the Knox County Health Department, join us on Galesburg's Morning News to provide a full update on the current respiratory illness season in Knox County. While Illinois is reporting one of its worst flu seasons in more than 15 years, local data in Knox County shows a more moderate picture. ICU admissions for influenza remain comparable to last year, with flu currently the dominant virus causing severe illness. Tammy and Erin explain the “Midwest cocktail” of circulating viruses — influenza, COVID-19, and RSV — and clarify how to tell real flu apart from common colds, stomach bugs, and other respiratory illnesses. The conversation covers who is most at risk, available vaccines including the trivalent flu shot, high-dose flu for adults 65 and older, updated COVID-19 vaccines, pneumonia, and shingles shots, and why it’s still not too late to get protected this season. They also share practical prevention tips: staying home until fever-free for 24 hours without medication, good hygiene, masking when appropriate, and when to seek medical care. Listen for clear, local guidance to help you and your family navigate flu, COVID, RSV, and other winter respiratory illnesses.