State Public Health Director Warns H1N1 Flu Still Causing Illness, Hospitalizations and Deaths

From the Illinois Department of Public Health

CHICAGO – Recognizing National Influenza Vaccination Week, Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. Damon T. Arnold today was joined by U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) and other public health officials to encourage Illinois residents to get their H1N1 vaccination.

“The H1N1 flu continues to circulate throughout the state. Last week, 67 additional hospitalizations and three deaths related to H1N1 flu were reported in Illinois. The amount of illness we are seeing is decreasing, but we are still seeing hospitalizations and deaths related to the H1N1 virus,” said Dr. Damon T. Arnold, Illinois Department of Public Health Director. “Illinoisans need to avoid becoming complacent. The time to get vaccinated for H1N1 is now.”

Federal, state, and local public health officials came together today to observe National Influenza Vaccination Week and remind Illinoisans of the importance of being vaccinated for the H1N1 flu virus. After seven consecutive weeks of decreasing influenza-like-illness in outpatients statewide, Illinois saw a slight increase in influenza-like-illness last week. Although the likelihood of a future wave of the H1N1 flu cannot be predicted, health officials know that vaccination is the most important step in protecting against influenza.

“National Influenza Vaccination Week is an important opportunity to recognize that H1N1 flu is a serious disease, and while many cases are mild, some can be deadly. There are still a lot of lives to be saved by getting ourselves and our families vaccinated,” said Cristal Thomas, MPP, Regional Director of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Region V.

Since the H1N1 flu virus began to circulate in April, there have been 2,696 lab-confirmed hospitalizations and 86 deaths related to the H1N1 flu virus in Illinois. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that between mid-April and November 14, 2009, 47 million people in the United States were infected with the 2009 H1N1 flu, more than 200,000 people were hospitalized, and over 9,800 people died.

There is now a very good supply of the H1N1 vaccine available to all Illinois residents who want to be vaccinated. H1N1 vaccine is now available to Illinois residents through local health departments, private physicians, and retail pharmacies. For a list of the nearest public vaccination sites in IL and to learn more about the H1N1 flu, visit www.ready.illinois.gov or www.flu.gov.

Pharmacies may charge a fee for administering the vaccine, typically between $12 and $22. This fee is covered by most health insurance. People should bring their health insurance information with them to the pharmacy, and they may need to submit a receipt to their insurance company for reimbursement. Those without health insurance can receive an H1N1 flu vaccination free of charge at all local health departments in Illinois.

For questions about the H1N1 flu, call the Illinois Flu Hotline at 866- 848-2094 – translators are available.

Durbin Announces $37 Million in Recovery Act Funding for Community Health Centers in Illinois

From the Office of U.S. Senator Dick Durbin

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that 36 community health centers in Illinois will receive $ 37,435,380 in grant funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The Capital Improvement Grants (CIP) grants, allocated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), will support the construction, repair and renovation of health centers nationwide as well as allow health centers to purchase new health information technology systems and adopt electronic health records. With these new funds, health centers will be to address immediate and pressing facility and equipment needs and create some much needed health center and construction-related jobs.

“Last year, over 1.1 million people in Illinois were treated at community health centers which administer health care to low-income families, many without health insurance,” said Durbin. “Today’s funding will support this critically important work and lead to economic growth in many underserved communities as health centers serve as a key source of local employment and economic activity.”

The CIP grants are part of $851 million in nationwide funding that was released today by HHS for more than 1,500 health centers. It is expected that with these new funds, health centers will be able to increase access to health care for millions of Americans and address immediate and pressing health center facility and equipment needs. More than 18 million Americans rely on health centers to keep them healthy, even if they can’t afford to pay for their care.

This is the third set of health center grants provided though the Recovery Act. On March 2, $155 million in funding was announced to establish 126 new health centers nationwide – four in Illinois. On March 27, $338 million in funding was announced to expand service and hours of operation at 1,126 health centers nationwide – 36 in Illinois.

The following Illinois health centers will receive funding under today’s announcement:

Health Centers around the State

• Anna: $699,960 in funding for Rural Health, Inc.
• Aurora: $1,147,645 in funding for Visiting Nurse Association of Fox Valley
• Carbondale: $1,033,300 in funding for Community Health & Emergency Services, Inc.
• Carterville: $1,032,460 in funding for Shawnee Health Service
• Chicago Heights: $2,449,295 in funding for Aunt Martha’s Youth Service Center, Inc.
• Christopher: $1,346,095 in funding for Christopher Rural Health Planning Corp.
• Decatur: $832,120 in funding for Community Health Improvement
• Elgin: $880,000 in funding for Greater Elgin Family Care Center
• Harvey: $1,035,085 in funding for Family Christian Health Center
• Joliet: $949,090 in funding for Will County Health Department / Will County Community Health Center
• Oak Park: $1,380,640 in funding for PCC Community Wellness Center
• Oquawka: $544,980 in funding for Henderson County Rural Health Center, Inc.
• Peoria: $616,030 in funding for Heartland Community Health Clinic
• Rock Falls: $616,240 in funding for Whiteside County Health Department and Whiteside County Community Health Clinic, Inc.
• Rockford: $1,652,800 in funding for Crusaders Central Clinic Association
• Sauget: $2,500,000 in funding for Southern Illinois Healthcare Foundation
• Springfield: $773,075 in funding for Central Counties Health Center, Inc.
• Virginia: $347,790 in funding for Cass County Health Department
• Waukegan: $1,715,660 in funding for Lake County Health Department and Community Health Center

Chicago Health Centers

• Access Community Health Network: $2,500,000
• Alivio Medical Center: $1,011,845
• Asian Human Services Family Health Center, Inc.: $393,010
• Beloved Community Family Wellness Center: $292,560
• Chicago Family Health Center, Inc.: $938,135
• Christian Community Health Center: $768,770
• Circle Family Health Care: $598,985
• Community Health Partnership of Illinois: $545,680
• Erie Family Health Center, Inc.: $1,294,085
• Friend Family Health Center, Inc.: $1,097,840
• Heartland Health Outreach, Inc.: $634,090
• Heartland International Health Center: $717,915
• Lawndale Christian Health Center: $1,649,370
• Near North Health Service Corporation: $1,418,300
• Primecare Community Health, Inc.: $724,075
• TCA Health Inc.: $550,965
• University of Illinois at Chicago: $747,490

IL Dept of Public Health Says H1N1 (Swine Flu) Still a Threat

June 3, 2009

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Public Health is reporting 1,268 cases of H1N1 influenza in Illinois and four people diagnosed with the virus, all with underlying medical conditions, have died.

“We must continue to take precautions to avoid getting sick – such as washing your hands, covering your cough and staying home if you’re sick,” said Dr. Damon T. Arnold, Illinois Department of Public Health Director. “The H1N1 influenza virus continues to circulate in Illinois, in the U.S. and throughout the world, and everyone, but especially those with underlying medical conditions, needs to take steps to avoid getting the flu.”

Like seasonal influenza, some people may be at greater risk of serious complications related to novel H1N1 infection and illness. People who are at high risk of serious seasonal flu-related complications include pregnant women, children younger than 5-year- old, people with chronic medical conditions and people 65-years and older. Examples of chronic medical conditions include diabetes, asthma, heart disease and lung disease.

Two of the Illinois H1N1 influenza related deaths were Chicago residents, one a suburban Cook County resident and the fourth a Kane County resident. For confidentiality reasons and out of respect for the families, the Illinois Department of Public Health is not releasing any additional information about the four deaths.

Dr. Arnold said the Department will continue to monitor the state for signs of increased virulence of H1N1 flu.

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Nine Confirmed H1N1 Flu Cases in Illinois

From the Illinois Department of Public Health

SPRINGFIELD – Officials with the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) are reporting nine confirmed cases of H1N1 flu (swine flu) in Illinois and 90 probable cases.

“We continue to see cases of H1N1 flu here in Illinois, but most have been mild. However, we should not become complacent. People need to continue to take precautions to stay healthy by following the three C’s – Clean – properly wash your hands frequently, Cover – cover your cough and sneeze, Contain – contain your germs by staying home if you are sick,” said Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. Damon T. Arnold.

For a breakdown of counties, and the city of Chicago, as well as additional information, log onto ready.illinois.gov for more information. There is also a hotline number for Illinois residents for easy access to information about the H1N1 flu (swine flu). The hotline (866-848-2094 for English, 866-241-2138 for Spanish) will operate daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily for as long as needed. Hotline operators will be equipped to answer basic, non-medical questions related to the outbreak and will be able to refer callers to additional information sources.