UPDATE: Looks Like We Are Finally Seeing the Flu Uptick for 2016
UPDATE 3PM FEB. 17, 2016
This just in.
The Kane County Health Department’s influenza-Like-Illness Surveillance Report for Week 6 — Feb. 7 through Feb. 13, 2016 — shows that the uptick in Kane County flu is continuing.
- Among five reporting hospital emergency rooms, 4.2 percent of visits were for influenza-like illness. That’s up from 3.3 percent in Week 5.
- During Week 6, six labs reported that 128 of 599 (21.4 percent) of specimens tested for influenza were positive. Of these 128 specimens, 115 (89.8 percent) were positive for influenza A and 13 (10.2 percent) were positive for influenza B.
- The ILI absenteeism rate for public schools in Kane County was 0.35 percent. That’s also up — from .27 percent last week. No schools had ILI absenteeism above the 5 percent threshold.
Click here to see the full report for Week 6, or visit the Kane County Health Department’s influenza-information page.
Week 6 Surveillance Report
ORIGINAL POST 3PM FEB. 16: ‘Are We Finally Seeing the Flu Uptick for 2016?’
It’s been a good 2015-16 flu season in Kane County, so far.
When you look at the data from the Health Department’s influenza weekly surveillance report, you see the black line on the graph that reports flu-like illnesses at the emergency rooms of Kane County’s five hospitals has been relatively low and flat since Week 40 of 2015. Since reporting started in late September, there have been zero outbreaks reported at assisted living facilities, and we’ve had relatively low numbers for the absentee rate from schools.
The report for Week 5, which ended Feb. 6, 2016, shows just a little bit of an uptick, and the question is whether that uptick is the beginning of a trend or just a one-week thing. If you look at the graphic on ER visits, you’ll notice that most years have a big “hump,” when the flu bug starts to get around quickly and affects a lot of people, then reaches its peak, then goes back to “normal” levels.
The Week 5 report shows that 3.3 percent of hospital ER visits were for flu-like illnesses, the number of children affected by flu symptoms are up in both the 0-4 age range and 5-25 age range and the absentee rate for schools is up from the previous week.
You can find a lot more information, including advice on preventive actions, on the Kane County Health Department’s influenza-information page.
Here’s some additional information as provided in the report.
Influenza surveillance for Kane County Health Department includes the collection of data from hospital emergency rooms, laboratories, and public schools. Our participants have reported the following aggregate measures:
- Among five reporting hospital emergency rooms, 3.3% of visits were for influenza-like illness.
- During Week 5, six labs reported that 65 of 486 (13.4%) of specimens tested for influenza were positive. Of these 65 specimens, 50 (76.9%) were positive for influenza A, 13 (20.0%) were positive for influenza B, and 2 (3.1%) was positive for influenza A/B. No other specimen tested positive for the week ending Feb. 6, 2016.
- The ILI absenteeism rate for public schools in Kane County was 0.27%. One public school had ILI absenteeism above the 5% threshold. No schools were closed due to ILI absenteeism.
- As of the week ending Feb. 6, there have been 3 cases of influenza-related ICU admission reported to the health department. No influenza-associated deaths were reported to the Health Department.
- To date, zero outbreaks of influenza have been reported in Long-Term Care/Assisted Living facilities in Kane County.
Of all visits for influenza-like illness to reporting emergency rooms during Week 5, 45.0% of visits were among zero to 4-year-olds, and 38.1% were among 5- to 24-year-olds. The 25-64 and 65+ year age groups accounted for 14.4% and 2.5% of all ILI visits, respectively. Throughout the season, KCHD will provide updated information on the total number of people visiting the emergency room for ILI, and what age groups make up those visits. This week, 3.3% of all visits to reporting emergency rooms were for ILI.
About the Kane County Health Department
In active partnership with our community, the Kane County Health Department improves the quality of life and well-being of all residents by developing and implementing local policies, systems, and services that protect and promote health, and prevent disease, injury and disability. Visit the Health Department’s Facebook Page and sign up for the award-winning “Health Matters” newsletter.
