As the holiday season approaches, it’s essential to know when you’re most likely to spread common illnesses like COVID, flu, RSV, pneumonia, and the stomach flu. According to Dr. Carla Garcia Carreno, director of infection prevention and control at Children’s Medical Center Plano, social distancing, hand washing, and getting vaccinated are crucial in preventing illness.
COVID-19 is contagious from one to two days before symptoms begin and up to eight to 10 days after symptoms start. Asymptomatic individuals can also transmit the virus. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend ending isolation after being fever-free for 24 hours and having improved symptoms.
The flu is contagious starting one day before symptoms appear and lasting five to seven days after becoming sick. People with weakened immune systems may be contagious for longer periods. The CDC’s guidelines apply, meaning you can return to normal after being fever-free for 24 hours without medication and have improved symptoms.
Stomach flu, caused by viral gastroenteritis or norovirus, is not a respiratory virus but is highly contagious through fecal-oral transmission. People can spread the virus for 2 weeks or more after feeling better.
RSV is usually contagious for three to eight days, with some infants and people with weakened immune systems continuing to spread the virus for 4 weeks or longer.
Pneumonia’s contagiousness follows a similar pattern as other respiratory viruses, decreasing once someone is fever-free for 24 hours and seeing symptom improvements.
The common cold, caused by rhinovirus, is most contagious during its worst symptoms, usually the first three days. However, you can still spread it beyond that timeframe, with some viral shedding occurring up to two weeks after onset.
To keep others safe this holiday season, prioritize social distancing, hand washing, and getting vaccinated against COVID-19 and other illnesses.
Source: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/covid-flu-contagious-period