 Friday, December 20, 2024
Flu and other respiratory illnesses
are increasing in Louisville
 The Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness has received increasing reports of flu, COVID-19, Whooping Cough (pertussis) and RSV cases in the past two weeks. Outbreaks of flu have been reported in congregate and educational settings. Visits to emergency departments and hospital admission for influenza are increasing across the state.
“There is no more ‘flu season is around the corner.’ Flu is here,” said Dr. Kris Bryant, infectious disease specialist for Norton Children’s and associate medical director for LMPHW. “We are also well into RSV season, but we’ve not yet reached the peak. Cases continue to climb.”
Staying healthy
“No one wants to miss holiday gatherings because they’re sick,” said Dr. Bryant. "There are several steps all of us can take to reduce our risk of getting a respiratory virus so we can do more of the things we enjoy.”
- Make sure you and your children up to date with your vaccines, including flu vaccine
- Wash your hands often.
- Sneeze or cough into your elbow or tissues.
- Stay home if you’re sick.
- Consider wearing a mask if you are high-risk for serious illness.
Dr. Bryant notes that while many viral illnesses just need to run their course, there are antiviral medications are available to treat influenza.
“These medications are recommended as soon as possible for anyone with severe, complicated, or progressive illness or anyone at higher risk for influenza complications. People at higher risk include those less than 5 years of age, those 65 years and older and individuals with chronic health conditions, including body mass index of 40 kg/m2 or higher,” said Dr. Bryant. “Antiviral treatment can be considered for otherwise healthy people if it can be started within 48 hours of illness.”
New dashboard tracks flu cases in Jefferson County
LMPHW has a new Influenza (Flu) Surveillance Dashboard. This interactive tool is designed to provide preliminary weekly totals for cases, flu-related deaths, and outbreaks within Jefferson County, using data from the National Electronic Disease Surveillance System. Information is collected from hospitals, laboratories, and private provider offices. The dashboard provides numbers across several different categories:
- Gender
- Race
- Ethnicity
- Age groups (adults or children)
- Location by ZIP code
Please note that these figures are preliminary and may change over time. The dashboard will be refreshed weekly as new information becomes available.
To learn more information about flu and other respiratory illnesses, please visit our website. To schedule your flu vaccine, contact your healthcare provider, local pharmacy or visit vaccines.gov.
Learn more about who we are and what we do
You can make a difference in public health
 Are you interested in improving the health and wellness of all residents of our city? If the answer is yes, we invite you to be a part of a dedicated team. Visit our Metro jobs center page to learn more about various career opportunities in public health.
For more information, please email LMPHWCareers@louisvilleky.gov.
 Happy holidays from the Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness! We hope you have a safe and healthy holiday season.
|
