Six people, including one child, died in Iowa last week due to influenza. That is the first pediatric death of the flu season in Iowa. According to the Iowa Department of Public Health, influenza activity increased on nearly every measure in the last week; the proportion of outpatient visits due to influenza-like illness increased to a season high of 2.92%, nearly twice the regional baseline. Influenza-like illness is defined as a fever of at least 100 degrees as well as a cough and/or sore throat.

Washington County Public Health Nurse Lynn Fisher shares how you can prevent the spread of illness in addition to getting an annual flu vaccine, “[The] really big message I want to press is that if people are ill they should be staying home, not going out, not to social events or parties, or even out in the public to go to the grocery store. So staying home, containing those germs in your home. Washing your hands a lot. Good cough etiquette, covering your cough at home, washing your hands, and staying home.”

Also, last week, there were six long-term care influenza outbreaks and 25 schools had at least 10% of students absent due to illness.