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 ILI cases and recent laboratory-confirmed influenza in a single region of the state.

As of February 11, 30 cases of flu have been confirmed in Northern Kentucky.

A breakdown of the 30 cases by county:

• Boone County: 11 cases

• Campbell County: six cases

• Grant County: six cases

• Kenton County: seven cases

Pertussis

A higher than normal amount of cases of pertussis, commonly referred to as "whooping cough," have been reported in Northern Kentucky in the past few months. Since October 2011, the Health Department has received reports of 31 confirmed cases of pertussis. 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.

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: February 14, 2012