Seventy people were hospitalized for influenza-associated illness in Iowa last week, and five people died. This season there have been 14 influenza-associated mortalities according to the Iowa Department of Public Health. Last week there were also three long-term care influenza outbreaks and 12 schools had 10% or greater absence due to illness, including two in Johnson County. Iowa’s proportion of outpatient visits due to flu-like illness was 2.29%, above the regional baseline of 1.6%. There were also 108 cases of RSV, with 24% of RSV rapid tests being positive. To help prevent the spread of illness, clean your hands often, cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or into your elbow, and contain illness by staying home when you’re sick.