Descriptive Statistics
Ashkum 1
Gilman 1
Onarga 4
Roberts 1
Watseka 2
Total Cases 9
Case counts with Date of Onset
October 1, 2009 1
October 13, 2009 2
October 15, 2009 1
October 17, 2009 2
October 18, 2009 1
October 21, 2009 1
October 26, 2009 1
Narrative
The laboratory confirmed cases of H1N1 flu in our geographic region follows the national pattern. Persons being infected with the highest percentage of H1N1 virus are in the 5 to 18 year age group with 5 confirmed H1N1 cases. The 5 – 18 year old age group comprises 55.6% of the confirmed cases in Ford and Iroquois Counties. Other age categories with laboratory confirmed H1N1 cases are as follows; 24 – 59 months have one case (11.1%), 19 – 24 years have one case (11.1%), 25 – 49 years have one case (11.1%), 50 – 64 years have one case (11.1%). It is worth mentioning that young babies aged 6 – 23 months and older Americans over the age of 65 years have not been infected with the H1N1 virus (see chart one below).
Local H1N1 Surveillance and Disease Detection
With the younger school aged population being most vulnerable to infection from the H1N1 virus the Ford-Iroquois Public Health Department has been conducting daily absenteeism surveillance at all public and private schools. There have been two (2) schools, Watseka Community High School and Danforth Elementary School jointly closed by school and public health officials. The measure was taken to reduce the transmission of influenza-like-illness (ILI) signs and symptoms between the students and staff members. The day after the “closed” schools reopened absenteeism fell three (3) fold on average. The Ford-Iroquois Public Health Department has also done random surveillance of state registered day care providers and has so far found little to no illness reported in the preschool population in both counties. It is imperative that persons with ILI symptoms stay home and rest to get well quicker and to not spread flu-like illness to others. It is equally important that local employers allow more flexible absenteeism policies for this period of time when flu-like symptoms are at their peak for their employees to stay home due to illness or to take care of a sick family member.
There are other community indicators that show ILI in more frequent hospital and physician office visits, neighboring counties with similar trends, and pharmaceutical and medical supply cache levels. It must be noted that most all ILI signs and symptoms are not diagnosed and/or confirmed thru laboratory testing for the H1N1 virus, but this particular ILI symptoms are attacking people in a significantly earlier time of year than seen in the regular seasonal flu virus. While the observation is in and of itself not a true scientific proof of H1N1 virus in our local communities it certainly shows a trend towards these ILI in our region being speculative for H1N1 virus transmission.
Local Response
The Ford-Iroquois Public Health Department has been and will continue informing the public with press releases, billboard ads, flyers, radio and newsprint ads, school advisories, web addresses, and a telephone H1N1 clinic hotline. The Ford-Iroquois Public Health Department is holding H1N1 vaccination clinics in both Ford and Iroquois Counties. The clinics make use of a mix of nights, weekend, and holiday openings for people to receive a free H1N1 vaccine or nasal mist. There are four important measures that allow people to maintain complete control over the H1N1 virus: staying home when sick, covering your mouth when sneezing, frequent hand washing and getting vaccinated. COMMUNITY IMMUNITY….DO YOUR PART!
LOCAL TELEPHONE AND INTERNET RESOURCES TO KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
H1N1 VACCINE HOTLINE (815) 432-3850
www.idph.state.il.us/h1n1_flu/sf_vaccine.htm
