Respiratory viruses are viruses that cause illnesses in the respiratory system. These illnesses share similar symptoms, risk factors, and prevention strategies.
View CDC's Respiratory Virus Guidance
Prevention Strategies
CDC recommends that all people use core prevention strategies. These are important steps you can take to protect yourself and others:
- Stay up to date with immunizations
- Practice good hygiene (practices that improve cleanliness)
- Take steps for cleaner air
- When you may have a respiratory virus:
- Use precautions to prevent the spread
- Seek health care promptly for testing and/or treatment if you have risk factors for severe illness; treatment may help lower your risk of severe illness
Learn About Preventing Respiratory Viruses
What to Do If You're Sick
- CDC’s first recommendation for people who get sick with a respiratory virus is simple: Stay home and away from others.
- Return to normal activities when symptoms have been getting better overall for 24 hours, and if a fever was present, it has been gone for 24 hours without the use of a fever-reducing medication.
- Once people resume normal activities, they are encouraged to take precautions for the next 5 days to curb disease spread, such as:
- Taking more steps for cleaner air,
- Enhancing hygiene practices,
- Wearing a well-fitting mask,
- Keeping a distance from others, and/or
- Getting testing to inform your actions to prevent spread to others.
Learn How to Prevent the Spread of Respiratory Viruses When Sick
Special Considerations
There are several special considerations for people with certain risk factors for severe illness.
Learn the Risk Factors for Severe Illness from Respiratory Viruses
Treatment as Prevention
Treatment is a core prevention strategy to lower risk from respiratory viruses.
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