Kane County Flu Cases, Flu-Related School Absences Increase

KANE COUNTY, IL — Flu activity has increased across the U.S., including in Kane County and other parts of Illinois, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Kane County Health Department.

The Kane County Health Department reported a steady increase in the last month in the number of students absent from school due to flu-related illness. A reported 0.40 percent of student absences during the week of March 3 through March 9, 2019 were for flu-like symptoms, according to county health officials. Officials add that nearly seven percent of emergency room visits last week across the county were reported to be due to flu-related symptoms.

The CDC reported last month over half of the reported new cases of the flu are for influenza A H3H2, a form of swine flu.

As of the week ending March 9, there were also 20 flu-related ICU admissions reported to the health department, and one the health department adds that one "influenza associated" pediatric death has been reported.

According to The Chicago Tribune, The Elgin Math and Science Academy charter school reported only two of its more than 200 students were out sick last Wednesday. The news source added that one percent of St. Charles School District 303’s recent absences were due to the flu, according to school nurse Juanita Gryfinski.

More, including flu-prevention tips can be found via kanehealth.com or the CDC website.