Rates of infection for respiratory viruses are currently low in the U.S. but are starting to rise, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).  Flu, COVID-19 and RSV spread more in fall and winter, especially during holiday gatherings, travel and time spent indoors. 

Dr. Robert Jacobson, medical director of Mayo Clinic's Primary Care Immunization Program, says there are tools to help reduce the risk of becoming severely ill from these respiratory infections.

Watch: The Mayo Clinic Minute

Journalists: Broadcast-quality video pkg (:57) is in the downloads at the end of the post. Please courtesy: "Mayo Clinic News Network." Read the script. 

"We're all at risk for getting the flu, and we can actually get (it) more than once a year. Every year, about 10% to 20% of us get the flu," says Dr. Jacobson.

Along with the flu, COVID-19 and RSV are among the most common respiratory illnesses. These viruses share similar symptoms, risks and prevention strategies.

Dr. Jacobson's No. 1 tip: Get vaccinated.

"This is specific protection your body can make to protect you and your loved ones," he says.

Along with vaccination, Dr. Jacobson stresses the importance of hand-washing.

"Especially before you eat, when you come home from work, when you come home from bringing your child from day care — both of you should go to the sink — wash your hands with soap and water after using a bathroom, before serving other people food, after being with a group of people, shaking hands with people, wash your hands," he says.

Wash your hands well and often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water aren't available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Make sure friends and family whom you're around regularly, especially kids, know the importance of hand-washing.

Tactics to avoid respiratory infections:

• Avoid touching your face. Keeping your hands away from your eyes, nose and mouth helps keep germs away from those places.
• Cover your coughs and sneezes. Cough or sneeze into a tissue or your elbow. Then wash your hands.
• Clean surfaces. Regularly clean often-touched surfaces to prevent the spread of infection from touching a surface with the virus on it and then your face.
• Avoid crowds. The flu spreads easily wherever people gather — in child care centers, schools, office buildings, auditoriums and on public transportation. By avoiding crowds during peak flu season, you lower your chances of infection.

And if you get sick, stay home to avoid spreading infection to others.

Related Articles