LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) - The holiday season is often spent with family and friends, but it can also be a time when illness can spread.
According to the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Kentucky joins just New Hampshire and Louisiana at having a 'high' level of acute respiratory illness.
"It's the time of the year where winter, where people are indoors more, they're around people more, immune systems maybe aren't as strong," said Dr. Lee Dossett, chief medical officer at Baptist Health Lexington.
Dr. Dossett said there is no one reason why illnesses such as the common cold and flu, COVID, influenza and RSV, are highly present in Kentucky compared to other states.
"I think we're just early for whatever reason. I think it will spread to other states, just because the viruses are so easily transmittable and maybe we just started early, and it will spread and hopefully that means we come down quicker while other places are at higher activity," he said.
However, there are activities that promote viral spread during the holiday season.
"We tend to be indoors more, we gather more, we want to see each other more, which is a great thing, but unfortunately, diseases love it too," said Dr. Nicholas Van Sickels, an infectious disease physician. "These are spread by us touching things and touching our computer or phone, and our foods, our meals and then not washing our hands in between."
There are ways to mitigate the spread to illness to loved ones. Washing hands, masking up when sick and getting preventative vaccinations, when possible, are common recommendations. However, medical professionals say they remain effective.
"We really have to consider the whole community when we talk about protection," said Dr. Dossett.
More information about the variety of respiratory illnesses on the CDC's radar can be found on their website.