Minnesota Prairie Roots

PART OF ME WANTS to step inside a bubble to protect myself from all the crud circulating in Minnesota right now. Influenza, norovirus, RSV, whooping cough and COVID—you name it, it’s here. There are a lot of sick people. I can’t recall a time recently when illness was so pervasive.

Certainly, I expect viruses to circulate more in the winter, especially after holiday gatherings and especially since we’re more confined to indoor spaces during cold weather. But, when Minnesota public health officials sound the alarm on increasing cases of these illness and rising hospitalizations, I listen. And what they’re sharing is certainly not the full scope of illness in Minnesota. Their stats are based only on reported and verified cases. These illnesses are clearly much more widespread.

As someone whose body does not handle viruses well, I lean toward leaning away from anyone who is coughing, sounds sick or seems unwell in general. Yet, I understand that illnesses can spread before symptoms appear. So it’s a bit of a gamble to be around people this time of year. For example, at a recent extended family holiday gathering (which I missed due to COVID), one clearly ill child infected many others with influenza. That included five in my core family and we missed celebrating Christmas due to that.

DOING WHAT I CAN TO STAY HEALTHY

For someone who is very much a people person—although I certainly like my alone time to write, read and simply be—it’s difficult to isolate myself. Yet, with a new grandson coming any day, I want to be healthy. So I am limiting my exposure by staying home more, specifically trying to avoid places where people congregate. And if I need to be in that situation, I will wear a mask, use hand sanitizer and wash my hands.

I just got over COVID and then rebound COVID a week later. But with several variants circulating in Minnesota, that’s no immunity guarantee. I’m in no hurry to get the coronavirus again, especially because of my long haul COVID. And I’ve had whooping cough, which, believe me, you do not want to get. I was severely ill with pertussis for three months in the summer of 2008. Adults, your childhood vaccine wears off. Get your booster.

STEPS YOU CAN TAKE TO PREVENT SPREADING ILLNESS

My point in writing all of this is three-fold: To raise awareness of the high levels of illness in Minnesota right now. Secondly, if you feel like you’re coming down with something, stay home. Please. Until you’re fully recovered. You may not get all that sick, but the people you infect could. And that includes me, your elderly neighbor, the woman in line at the grocery store, your friend sitting next to you in church, someone with a compromised immune system, a young child… Finally, practice good habits like coughing or sneezing into your arm, not your hands. Wash your hands. Often. Get vaccinated and stay up to date on those vaccinations, which can both prevent illness and prevent serious illness. Test for COVID if you have symptoms indicating that as a possibility. Simple actions like that help reduce spread of illnesses.

I think what it really comes down at the core is caring about others. We all need to shift our focus from beyond ourselves to considering the health of our friends, family, neighbors and, yes, even strangers. So you’re feeling sick? Stay home. Take care of yourself. Get well. Stay healthy.

© Copyright 2025 Audrey Kletscher Helbling