What's Going Around?

This page will be frequently updated to reflect illnesses that are currently circulating at a higher rate than usual in Northern Kentucky (Boone, Campbell, Grant and Kenton Counties).

Flu

The current level of flu activity for the state of Kentucky is "local," the second lowest level of flu activity. Local activity is defined as outbreaks of influenza or increases in influenza-like illness cases and recent laboratory-confirmed influenza in a single region of the state.

As of May 12, 283 cases of flu have been confirmed in Northern Kentucky.

A breakdown of the 283 cases by county:

• Boone County: 117 cases

• Campbell County: 39 cases

• Grant County: 24 cases

• Kenton County: 103 cases

Pertussis

A higher than normal amount of cases of pertussis, commonly referred to as "whooping cough," have been reported in Northern Kentucky recently. In 2011, the Health Department received reports of 49 confirmed cases of pertussis. So far in 2012, 19 cases have been reported to the Health Department. In a typical year, 25 cases are reported in Northern Kentucky.

In 2010, an outbreak of pertussis occurred in Northern Kentucky. In that year, 127 cases were reported to the Health Department.

For more information on pertussis and how to protect yourself and children from the illness, please see our fact sheet.

Syphilis

In 2011 there were 38 syphilis cases reported, 33 of which were early syphilis. This cases rate of 7.5 cases per 100,000 people was significantly higher than the 2010 case rate for the state of Kentucky, 5.5 cases per 100,000.

Case rates of syphilis in Northern Kentucky have increased every year since 2008, as seen in the graph below.

For more informaiton on syphilis, please view our fact sheet on the disease.

Hepatitis

• Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver caused by a virus, there are three main types: A, B, and C.

• Hepatitis A is transmitted fecal-oral (it enters the body through the mouth from something contaminated with an infected persons feces, usually via hands or by food).

• Hepatitis B is transmitted through blood and body fluids, but is most commonly transferred through sexual contact with an infected person.

• Hepatitis C is transmitted through direct blood to blood contact, often by sharing of needles.

On average, four to 22 cases a month of acute or chronic hepatitis B are reported. With hepatitis C, about 10 to 77 cases a month that are acute or chronic are reported.

The graph below shows the number of acute cases of hepatitis B and hepatitis C reported over the past five years. Intravenous drug use continues to rise in the community, which could play a role in the increased number of cases in 2010, especially with hepatitis C.

Last updated: May 15, 2012