Schools, health officials report an increase in the disease in Iowa

Monks, Iowa (KCRG) – The Iowa Ministry of Health and Social Services notes an increase in flu. And dozens of schools also see 10% or more students for the disease.

This week, 73 schools reported that 10% or more missing students for the disease. This includes schools of the counties of Linn, Dubuque, Jones and Delaware. Iowa saw 11 schools falling into this category last week.

Polk county has 14 schools with 10% of students for at least one day this month according to the County Department of Health. He said it was a significant increase compared to last January. He said some schools said more than 10% of students for two or three consecutive days. The department said that diseases include norovirus, influenza A, streptococcal angina, pneumonia and other infectious diseases.

“We see a marked increase in the disease among students and staff in the schools of Polk County. It is crucial that we are working together as a community to reduce the spread of these diseases and keep our children and our healthy community, “said Juliann Van Liew, director of the Polk County Health Department.

Last year at that time, Iowa only saw three schools with high students for the disease.

The positive flu tests went from around 17% to 25% in last week. The ambulatory visits to the flu go from around 3% to 4% during this period. The activity of the global flu in Iowa remains at the moderate level. The age group that sees most cases of flu is 5 to 24 years old.

VRS cases also increased last week in IOWA, to around 11% of tests coming back positive. The COVVI-19 activity remains low with positive tests decreasing from 9 to 6%.

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