Following the deaths of former Vice President Dick Cheney and actress Diane Keaton, both from complications related to pneumonia, local health experts are urging the public to be on alert as respiratory virus season ramps up.

Pneumonia often starts with symptoms that resemble a cold or the flu — coughing, congestion and fever — but can quickly turn more serious if left untreated.

“There’s a lot of overlap with symptoms that people have with the common cold,” said Dr. Jason Bowling, a hospital epidemiologist at University Health. “Typically, with pneumonia, those symptoms tend to last longer and tend to be more severe.”

Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs caused by bacteria, viruses or fungi. It can affect people of all ages but is particularly dangerous for young children, older adul

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