Reduce the spread of illness at home
Simple steps can help prevent one person’s illness from becoming a full family event
•October 21, 2026•
by Angela Hogan
When one person in a household gets sick, it can be difficult to keep the illness from spreading to everyone else. Respiratory viruses such as influenza, COVID-19, and RSV can spread through the air and through close contact with an infected person. Germs can also spread through our hands after touching shared surfaces. Fortunately, families can help keep the illness from spreading throughout the household with a few simple steps.
Give the Sick Person Some Space
When possible, individuals with a respiratory infection should stay away from other household members, especially those at greater risk for serious illness.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends staying home and away from others when experiencing respiratory-virus symptoms such as fever, chills, fatigue, cough, runny nose, or headache. Creating some distance within the home can also reduce exposure.
Complete separation may not always be practical, particularly for parents caring for sick children. The goal is simply to reduce unnecessary close contact when possible.
Wash Hands Often