SRHD Launches Comprehensive Respiratory Illness Dashboard to Empower Community in Fight Against COVID-19, Flu, and RSV

The Spokane Regional Health District (SRHD) has recently launched an interactive respiratory illness dashboard that provides valuable insights into COVID-19, flu, and RSV trends in Spokane County. This new dashboard includes data on emergency department visits with a diagnosed respiratory illness, hospitalizations due to COVID-19 and flu, long-term care outbreaks, COVID-19 and flu mortality rates, and virus levels in wastewater. The dashboard aims to increase awareness of respiratory illness activity, mark the onset of the respiratory illness season, and aid in decision-making regarding infection control policies.

The new dashboard builds upon the previous COVID-19 dashboard by incorporating data for flu and RSV. Data for the dashboard is sourced from various sources including the Electronic Surveillance System for the Early Notification of Community-Based Epidemics, Washington State Disease Reporting System, Washington State Department of Health, and sample surveillance of local water reclamation facilities. The goal of the dashboard is to provide key information directly to the community to help organizations and individuals make well-informed policies and decisions that could potentially save lives.

Mark Springer, the Communicable Disease Investigation and Prevention Manager at SRHD emphasized the importance of this tool in empowering the community with knowledge to combat respiratory illnesses effectively. He encouraged everyone to visit srhd.org/respiratory-illness-dashboard to access this interactive dashboard that can help them stay informed about their health and safety during this season.

Spokane Regional Health District (SRHD) serves as a leader and partner in public health in Spokane County. As one of 34 local public health agencies serving Washington state’s 39 counties, SRHD is dedicated to protecting, improving, and promoting the health and well-being of all individuals through evidence-based practices. For more comprehensive information about SRHD’s efforts towards making Spokane a safer community please visit www.srhd.org or follow SRHD on Facebook or Twitter for safety tips and wellness updates.