TEXAS, USA — Coughing, sneezing and sore throats are all the more common during the winter months.
As cold and flu season reaches its peak, the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) has created a way to track influenza – more commonly known as the flu – COVID-19 and RSV all in one place.
The new online dashboard can be found on the Texas DSHS website. Those interested can track hospitalizations, visits to the emergency room and even deaths related to the "big three" respiratory viruses.
"Those data points demonstrate the diseases' most severe effects on people, communities and the health care system," DSHS Commissioner Jennifer Shuford, MD, MPH, said. "The dashboard provides a near real-time look at conditions so people can make informed decisions on precautions for themselves and their families and health care professionals can make recommendations to their patients."
The DSHS is also publishing a weekly respiratory virus surveillance report, which combines separate reports on the flu, COVID-19 and RSV. The reports also show counties where different types of flu have been found, proportions of COVID-19 variants present across the state and more. View the most recent report, produced on Jan. 19.
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According to the most recent report, more than 38,000 people have experienced probable or determined COVID-19 diagnoses in 2024 so far.
To avoid contracting various respiratory viruses, the DSHS suggests getting vaccines, washing your hands, covering up airborne transmissions (coughing, sneezing, etc.) and avoiding public places when symptoms occur.
If you're feeling sick, health officials advise that you receive testing and necessary treatment while prioritizing staying home.
The new DSHS dashboard is just one way to streamline information on a public level.