Long-term care residents who are fully vaccinated can now enjoy fewer restrictions. State Health Commissioner Dr. Kris Box says Indiana is adopting the new CDC guidance in long-term care facilities.
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Yes, the COVID-19 pandemic that has taken the lives of more than 12,000 Hoosiers is deadlier than the typical flu. That’s according to State Health Commissioner Dr. Kris Box.
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Indiana will expand COVID-19 vaccine eligibility to any Hoosier age 40 and older starting Monday. Residents will be able to schedule an appointment at ourshot.in.gov or by calling 211.
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A year after Indiana reported its first COVID-19 case, the number of Hoosiers fully vaccinated against the virus has now surpassed the number of cases. Almost 678,000 Hoosiers are now considered fully vaccinated, according to Saturday’s report from the Indiana Department of Health. More than 1.1 million have gotten at least one dose.
Continue readingThe number of new COVID-19 cases has ticked slightly higher. Another seven cases were reported in Marshall County, according to Saturday’s report from the Indiana Department of Health. Starke and Pulaski counties each had four new cases.
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The local area continues to report more COVID-19 cases. Another 19 cases were reported in Marshall County, according to Saturday’s update from the Indiana Department of Health. Pulaski County had nine new cases, its largest single-day increase in almost a month. Starke County reported just one new case.
Continue readingMore COVID-19 cases have been reported in Marshall, Starke, and Pulaski counties. Marshall County had 14 new cases, according to Saturday’s update from the Indiana Department of Health. Starke County had eight, while Pulaski County had three.
Continue readingAnother COVID-19 death has been reported in Starke County. The Indiana Department of Health’s COVID-19 dashboard showed one new death in Saturday’s update, but the revised total remained at 10.
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The Indiana State Department of Health is working to increase COVID-19 testing availability in the northern and southern parts of the state, but resources remain limited.
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The first influenza-related death of the 2019-2020 flu season has been reported by the Indiana State Department of Health.
Last flu season, more than 110 Indiana residents died from influenza-associated illnesses.
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Starke Hospital is restricting visitors, to try to slow the spread of the flu. Under the temporary restrictions, only two visitors will be allowed with a patient at a time. No visitors under 18 will be permitted.
The latest Weekly Influenza Report from the Indiana Department of Health shows that flu activity increased sharply in the final weeks of 2017, resulting in multiple flu-related deaths.
The report from December 21st stated that the influenza-like-illness (ILI) activity code was minimal with only 2 deaths reported. On the very next report from December 29th, the ILI activity code had been changed to high with a total of 9 deaths reported. Continue reading
Flu season is officially upon us and getting a flu shot is the best way to protect yourself from coming down with the most common strains of the disease.
Each year, influenza viruses are spread around through coughing, sneezing, and close contact. The sickness can strike suddenly and last for several days. Symptoms vary by age but typically include a runny or stuffy nose, head and muscle aches, fatigue, fever or chills, a sore throat and coughing.
Starke County Health Department Public Health Nurse Frank Lynch has a few helpful tips to ensure citizens stay healthy this time of year. Continue reading
Indiana state health officials have recorded the first influenza-associated death of the 2016-17 season. They will not release any additional information about the patient due to privacy laws. Continue reading
Local hospitals are restricting patient visits in an effort to stop the spread of the flu. IU Health Starke and LaPorte Hospitals are asking that only healthy adults age 18 or older visit patients in the hospital and that they avoid bringing children along. Continue reading
The seasonal flu virus is circulating nationwide and the Starke County Health Department says there are a few things you can do to keep your family healthy.
Influenza is a respiratory virus that can lead to various symptoms such as a stuffy nose, coughing, and body aches according to the Centers for Disease Control. This year, a stronger strain of the Influenza A virus is spreading in the U.S.
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The flu has been the cause of 85 deaths in Indiana this year. Officials have determined that that number is higher than the total number of deaths in each of the previous ten years.
The flu season has just reached the halfway point.
State Health Commissioner Jerome Adams says it’s important to get to a health care provider right away if you have flu symptoms. Those symptoms include a fever of 100 degrees or greater, headache, fatigue, cough, muscle aches, or sore throat.
The low number of positive influenza cases in the area and at the state level prompted the change in previous visitor restrictions.
The local facilities implemented the precautionary measures of visitor restrictions to protect patients, families and colleagues from unnecessary potential exposure to the flu virus in mid-January.
IU Health continues to encourage all visitors to use their best judgment when visiting a loved one in the hospital. If visiting someone in a hospital, make sure you are healthy. Wash your hands or use hand sanitizer often.
Health officials are urging those who can to get the flu vaccine.
Eleven flu deaths have been confirmed with six of those being reported out of St. Joseph County. In a change from last year’s flu season, health officials say that all but one of the deaths occurred in individuals between the ages of 25 to 64.
February, the peak of flu season, is just a couple weeks away, but Starke County Health Nurse Frank Lynch said it’s still not too late to get your flu shot. With the H1N1 virus now widespread across 35 states, including Indiana, it is becoming increasingly important to get those vaccinations.
Lynch said it takes about two weeks to build an immunity after getting vaccinated.
