COVID, flu, allergies: What's going around the Austin area?

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- It's back-to-school season, and with it comes an uptick in viral bugs, allergies and other respiratory illnesses swirling around.

Texas, along with the majority of the U.S., continues to report high levels of COVID-19 viral activity as the respiratory condition experiences a summertime bump. Since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic in March 2020, communities across the country have seen heightened levels of COVID-19 in the summer, as well as, winter months.

But that isn't the only thing circulating right now, local health experts told KXAN.

"We're kind of seeing this strange outcrop of symptoms that include congestion, a lot of coughing, running nose, sneezing, all the things that point to some sort of respiratory illness," said Rannon Ching, president and chief pharmacy officer at Tarrytown Pharmacy. "It could be the cold. It could be the flu or COVID, but not always do patients test positive for these respiratory illnesses when they get a test or if they go to their doctor."

Two possible causes Ching mentioned included recent rainstorms on Sunday as well as the Saharan dust settling in the greater Austin area. Both tend to lead to more allergens swirling in the air, in turn, impacting people's respiratory systems and possibly causing these latest symptoms.

Prior to COVID, cold and flu season, typically, kickstarted in the fall before progressing in the winter months. With the addition of COVID to the mix, it's become more common to see respiratory illnesses -- COVID-19 and otherwise -- uptick in the summertime, Ching said.

"It seems to be kind of normalizing where we're seeing this twice a year kind of illness -- and then especially in Austin, when you add in the allergies and the cedar, sometimes it feels like it's all year-round," Ching said. "But it has been interesting seeing the different paths and different patterns change, especially over the last three to four years."

For those who do feel any sort of respiratory symptoms, Austin Public Health said it doesn't hurt to test a few times for COVID-19. The health agency told KXAN Friday that while initial testing might be negative, symptoms can develop over the course of multiple days.

"Symptoms may develop over several days and your initial test may be negative, however, a repeat test in 24 to 48 hours may be positive," Dr. Desmar Walkes, medical director and health authority for Austin/Travis County, told KXAN in a statement. "It is a good idea to see medical attention when respiratory symptoms develop so that treatment can be started."

Walkes also confirmed that APH has seen a higher concentration of respiratory illnesses locally. For those who are sick, it's recommended that they stay at home until their symptoms improve and, if they have a fever, they don't go out in public until it's been 24 hours fever-free without the assistance of fever-reducing medications.

Once symptoms begin to improve, APH added people can continue wearing a mask, thoroughly washing hands and carefully cleaning commonly touched surfaces to minimize any spread.

Ching echoed APH's advice for anyone who might be feeling sick, especially with the 2024-25 school year poised to start. Good hygiene and keeping one's distance is always beneficial if they've been sick, as well as alerting others if someone they know has a respiratory illness or if they themselves are exhibiting symptoms.

Outside of those everyday measures, Ching added flu shots and updated COVID-19 vaccines will be available at pharmacies this fall. He encouraged people to stay up to date on those vaccines and to get them sooner rather than later, so it doesn't get lost in the shuffle of back-to-school season.

"Try to get your preventative vaccines as soon as possible, whether it be flu or COVID," he said, adding: "Try to wash your hands if someone's sick. Just try to keep your distance if you can, and all the normal preventative things. But I think the big thing is: Control what you can control."