 With respiratory disease on the rise, it is more important than ever to practice healthy habits. I spoke to Public Health Director Tammy Riley about ways you can keep you and your family healthy this cold and flu season. It is respiratory season and anecdotally, you know, we hear the stories of the spread from COVID to RSV to flu. So we want to ensure that we stay as healthy as possible and remain at work, remain at school. So of course, vaccination for most respiratory illnesses is the Public Health 101 recommendation. But in addition to vaccine and protecting your immunity, we ask that individuals, you know, stay home if you're sick, wash your hands frequently, cover coughs and sneezes and again, you know, stay away from high risk individuals like the elderly and other immunocompromised populations if you do have symptoms or have been exposed. Make your ride one of a kind and see the experts at J&M Custom Auto and Off-Road. Hit your customization candy store. Visit jmcustomauto.com and select your make and model. It's that easy. Window training, remote starts, leather interiors, sound systems, front and rear bumpers, spray and bed liners, bed covers, wheels and tires, lift kits, step rails, even under glow light kits and so much more. If you can dream it, we can do it at J&M Custom. Practicing these habits can help reduce the spread of respiratory viruses by over 20%. Yeah, like for your kiddos when you're sending them to school, you know, make sure that they are washing their hands and that you go over that with them and they sing the ABCs while they wash their hands. Clean those backpacks, sell phones, keep those germ-free and also have those talks around with family about covering coughs and sneezes and, you know, see your primary care provider. Sometimes it's very difficult to really be able to discern from cold to COVID to RSV to flu. So, you know, seek testing if your symptoms are more than mild. For more information, go to Pike County Health Department on Facebook. Reporting for Mountain Top News, I'm Breanna Robinson.