COLUMBIA, SC (WOLO) — With many of those pesky, annual bugs going around, local doctors are encouraging folks to wash their hands — and get vaccinated! Infectious diseases doctors at Prisma Health say the flu, RSV, Norovirus, pneumonia, and Covid-19 round out the top five. “I was on call over the new year and I don’t think I’ve ever seen the hospitals at Richland or Park Ridge that full. It was pretty remarkable,” says Infectious Diseases Dr. Helmut Albrecht. The best ways to prevent catching or spreading these bugs remain unchanged. Wash your hands, use hand sanitizer, get vaccinated, and stay home if you’re sick! Pediatric Infectious Diseases Dr. Anna-Kathryn Burch says its also been a big year for Norovirus — also known as “Winter Vomiting Disease,” with typical symptoms including diarrhea, vomiting, and stomach pain for one to three days. “One of the big things that I like to tell people with Norovirus is to make sure you wash your hands. Hand sanitizer doesn’t really help with norovirus, and in the end, it’s always great to make sure you’re up-to-date on your vaccines. I echo Dr. Albrecht in that. We want to protect ourselves and we want to protect others,” says Burch. Concerning RSV, the vaccine is recommended for people over the age of 75, any senior with an increased risk, and either pregnant women or their newborns. “Expecting moms should definitely get vaccinated for this. Protections for the baby with antibodies coming through the placenta are enormous. If you’re an expecting dad you should get the vaccine. If your kids are expecting, as grandparents, you should probably get vaccinated,” says Albrecht. And if your child is sick, Dr. Burch says keep them home from school. “If they have fever, please don’t give them a dose of Ibuprofen or Tylenol and send them to school, because that just helps spread disease to other individuals. I know it’s difficult when you have to go to work, but it helps us all when kids who are sick don’t go to school,” says Burch. And as a reminder doctors say it is safe to get both the flu and Covid shots at the same time. Categories: Local News, Richland, State Tags: COVID, Dr. Anna-Kathryn Burch, Dr. Helmut, Flu, Norovirus, pneumonia, Prisma Health, RSV