FOUNTAIN HILL, Pa. — The school year is almost over, but the illnesses that float around the classroom have stuck around.
A local doctor is weighing in on the virus trends and what we can expect over the summer.
“We're always going to have somewhat of a level of these cold viruses that will persist throughout the summer, but it is higher now than what we did see in the past,” said Dr. Jeffrey Jahre, St. Luke’s University Health Network’s senior vice president of medical and academic affairs and section chief emeritus of infectious diseases.
COVID-19, influenza, the common cold, and other illnesses are sticking around following a spring spike in cases.
"We are still seeing influenza cases, although they are certainly at a lower level."Dr. Jeffrey Jahre, St. Luke’s University Health Network
“Peak flu season is usually sometime in January or February and certainly we did see a major increase during that period of time, but we are still seeing influenza cases, although they are certainly at a lower level,” he said. “Around the country, they've been sort of holding steady or dropping somewhat in the last couple of weeks.”
Jahre said with many people planning summer vacations and get-togethers, there are a few precautions to take beforehand. The infectious disease specialist advises people to check with their primary care doctor and make sure they are up to date on all of their vaccinations.
“Some of the other things that we always tell people to do is to make sure that when they're on a trip that they use adequate disinfectant or hand sanitizer, and hand washing, that when you're in common areas, like hotels or restaurants, that doorknobs and things along that line can carry a number of different agents that can cause disease,” he said.
He said when people are vacationing, they sometimes let their sleep and nutrition habits fall apart and that can affect the immune system, making people more vulnerable to diseases.
This time of year also has many people outside enjoying nature, but Jahre warns of another threat that comes with that: Lyme disease.
“We are already seeing lots of cases of acute Lyme disease,” he said. “I think it's very important for people to prepare themselves by using proper insect repellent, both on their clothing and insect repellent on their skin, when they're outdoors and to make sure that they get inspected for any areas that might have ticks on them and have someone take a look at areas that are not very visible to the average person.”
He concluded that dehydration is a risk throughout the summer as well, so people should be mindful of their water intake and stay hydrated.
