contributed photo The respiratory system works tirelessly to provide fresh oxygen to the body and ensure that all metabolic activities can occur unhindered. Most of the recent outbreaks in the state have been COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

Marshalltown residents might have noticed a few more empty seats at work or in school the past couple weeks. There has been an increase in the number of illnesses going through town, causing people to stay home and recover.

McFarland Express Nurse Practitioner Taylor Frizzell said she noticed the higher number of cases in the last two weeks.

“I was off the first week in January,” she said. “During Christmas, there were COVID cases. I got back last week, and there has been a skyrocket in cases. This is the normal time of year for more cases. I expect it to taper off in March. Right now, we’re in the middle of flu season, which starts in October.”

Marshall County Public Health Director Sydney Grewell said there has been an increase in respiratory illnesses throughout the state. According to the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) report, most of the outbreaks in the state have been COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

Per the HHS report during the first week of January, Grewell said there has been a significant increase from December. Sixteen percent of the cases in Iowa have been influenza, a large rise from 2 percent at the end of 2024.

The illnesses going through Marshalltown are not limited to one age range. Frizzell has seen cases in the last few weeks in all ages, and there is more than one ailment. Locally, there has been an increase in gastroenteritis, also known as the stomach flu, influenza A and B, COVID-19 and slightly more RSV. She said there have also been more cases of people sick with another virus, one which does not fit into the previously mentioned. However, Frizzell added it is normal this time of year for an unidentified virus to spread. Fortunately, the residents who are diagnosed with an unknown virus are not panicking.

“They are expecting it,” she said. “We educate them on what they should do.”

Frizzell said over-the-counter medications such as Tylenol, ibuprofen, nasal sprays, throat lozenges and Mucinex can really help people recover. Prescriptions of antibiotics will not do much, she added.

“They should also stay at home, rest and drink lots of fluids,” Frizzell said.

With the large number of people getting sick, the best things others can do to prevent contracting illnesses is washing hands frequently, staying at home when possible and getting vaccinated.

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Contact Lana Bradstream at 641-753-6611 ext. 210 or

lbradstream@timesrepublican.com.