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For more information about the Healthy Living/Viviendo Mejor program, as well as other sites for classes, please contact Fabiola Guerra, Project Coordinator at the City of Laredo Health Department at (956) 721-4994.

Courtesy Eliseo Ceja,

(Laredo, Texas)-The City of Laredo Health Department would like to inform the community about a rise in Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) activity being reported from multiple organizations and systems. CDC surveillance across the nation has shown an increase in RSV detections and RSV- associated hospitalizations.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infects the lungs and breathing passages of most individuals. In healthy people, symptoms of RSV infection are usually mild and resolve within a week. However, RSV can cause serious illness or death in vulnerable individuals (infant and toddlers).

Early Symptoms of RSV may include:

• Runny Nose

• Decrease in appetite

• Cough, which may progress to wheezing or difficulty breathing People infected with RSV are usually contagious for 3 to 8 days and may become contagious a day or two before they start showing signs of illness. However, some infants, and people with weakened immune systems, can continue to spread the virus even after they stop showing symptoms, for as long as 4 weeks. CDC recommends children stay home until they have gone a full 24 hours fever-free without the use of fever-reducing medication.

However, due to the rise in cases, The City of Laredo Health Department is recommending for students to stay home until they have been fever-free for at least 48 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications.

The City of Laredo Health Department wants to remind the community about practicing everyday preventative measures such as:

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

• Stay home when sick o If possible, stay home from work, school, and any public areas when you are sick.

• Keep your hands off your face • Covering coughs and sneezes • Hand washing • Clean and disinfect surfaces