FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 9, 2018 Contact: Hannah Goering Lake County Health Department (847) 377-8099
Flu-like activity increases sharply
NIPHC agencies recommend vaccination
as the best protection
The member
agencies of the Northern Illinois Public Health Consortium (NIPHC) would like
to advise residents that seasonal flu activity has increased sharply in recent
weeks. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is reporting that
influenza-like-illness activity is widespread across most of the country,
including Illinois. CDC’s latest surveillance data shows current ILI activity
is similar to what was seen during the peak of the 2014-2015 season; the most
severe in recent years.
Seasonal
influenza, or flu, is a contagious respiratory virus that can cause mild to
severe illness. Symptoms of the flu virus include fever, cough, sore throat,
runny or stuffy nose, headache, muscle aches and fatigue. Flu is spread
primarily when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
“The CDC
recommends everyone 6 months and older get vaccinated,” said Dr. Terry Mason,
NIPHC President and Chief Operating Officer of the Cook County Department of
Public Health. “We know the best way to protect yourself and your family from
getting sick is by getting the flu shot. The vaccine prevents millions of
illnesses and tens of thousands of hospitalizations every year, and can lessen
the severity of symptoms.”
In addition to
getting the flu shot, follow these simple steps to help prevent the spread of
the flu:
- Cover
your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in
the trash after you use it.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not
available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.
- If
you are sick with flu-like illness, stay home for at least 24 hours after your
fever is gone, except to get medical care or for other necessities. (Fever
should be gone for 24 hours without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.)
More information about flu prevention is available from the
CDC website at https://www.cdc.gov/flu/index.htm,
or from the Lake County Health Department website.
NIPHC is a point of
collaboration and exchange of information for local health departments in the
northern Illinois region to promote health, prevent disease and protect
communities. The consortium also works to raise public awareness, build
constituencies and shape legislation and policies that affect public health in
the region. Please see http://www.niphc.org/
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