Script

WINTER VIRUSES
David Winter, MD, Baylor Scott & White Health

{**ON CAM**}
SEASONAL VIRUSES ARE HITTING PARTS OF TEXAS PARTICULARLY HARD THIS HOLIDAY SEASON … AND IT MAY GET WORSE AS PEOPLE SPREAD CHEER AND GERMS.

{**TAKE VO**}
INTERNAL MEDICINE DOCTOR DAVID WINTER SAYS HIS PRACTICE IS MIRRORING THE NATIONAL TREND - LOTS OF PATIENTS SICK WITH FLU VERY EARLY IN THE SEASON. THE C-D-C REPORTS NEARLY FIVE HUNDRED PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY DIED FROM THE FLU THIS YEAR. DOCTOR WINTER SAYS AS PEOPLE PLAN TO GET TOGETHER OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS … THOSE WHO AREN'T FEELING WELL NEED TO STAY HOME – AND EVERYONE SHOULD CONSIDER VACCINATIONS.

{**TAKE SOT**}
David Winter, MD
Baylor Scott & White Health
TRT: 21
"The vaccines do their job to prevent serious infections when people take them. The problem is we're not seeing a lot of take-up this time of year. In fact, only 25 percent of adults have gotten a flu shot. Even worse, with COVID, only 14 percent of adults have gotten another COVID vaccine. So the vaccines work, but they don't work if you don't take them."

{**ON CAM**}
IN ADDITION TO TREATING SYMPTOMS WITH OVER-THE-COUNTER MEDICATIONS, WINTER SAYS INFECTIOUS DISEASE EXPERTS ALSO RECOMMEND SOAKING IN A HOT BATHTUB IF YOU SUSPECT YOU'RE SICK WITH A VIRUS. THAT'S BECAUSE OUR BODIES CAN TOLERATE THE HEAT … BUT THE VIRUS CANNOT.