Latest news with #ChandanaVavilala
Yahoo
16-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Lake County reports highest rate of flu-like cases in Indiana, cases rising nationally
Lake County has the highest mortality rate this flu season with 10 deaths reported, according to the Indiana Department of Health. In total, 57 Indiana residents have died from flu this season, which spans from October through May in the U.S., according to the Indiana Department of Health. After Lake County, Marion County has reported 8 flu deaths, while the remaining 90 counties have reported either none or under 5 deaths, according to the Indiana Department of Health. The Indiana Department of Health tracks influenza-like illness, or ILI, which is when a patient has a fever of 100 degrees or higher and a cough and/or sore throat. In the last week, the department reported that ILI in Indiana is very high, with emergency department and urgent care visits reporting 6.21% of patients with ILI and outpatient facilities reporting 6.08% of patients with ILI. Lake County reported 3.2% of patients and Porter County reported 3.8% of patients in emergency departments and urgent cares reported ILI symptoms this week, according to the Indiana Department of Health. Porter County reported 5.2% of patients and Lake County reported 2.9% of patients in outpatient facilities reported ILI symptoms this week, according to the Indiana Department of Health. Both of those data points are more than 1.25% higher than the previous week, according to the Indiana Department of Health. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows most of the country, particularly the Midwest and East Coast, are reporting very high and high levels of the flu. Lake County Health Officer Dr. Chandana Vavilala said a significant amount of flu infections have been reported in the county and throughout the state. Additionally, Norovirus is spreading at a higher rate than a typical winter, she said. Erica Kaufman West, the medical director of infectious diseases with Franciscan Physician Network, said it's about midway through flu season. If the data increases as the weeks go on, that would be unusual, she said. This flu season is one of the worst ones in recent years, Kaufman West said, as she's seen many more people hospitalized with severe flu-like symptoms. She's heard from patients that classroom sizes have felt smaller as five to six students have been out sick at the same time. 'We haven't seen a lot of high flu rates since COVID. So I think this is a little unusual in that case in that we haven't had one this bad recently,' Kaufman West said. This flu season, Kaufman West said the dominant symptoms have been high fever, muscle weakness and fatigue. The best protection against the flu is receiving the flu shot in October, Kaufman West said, as it takes about two weeks for the immune system to adjust to the vaccines. Anyone over the age of 65, with chronic medical conditions, diabetes, heart conditions and kidney problems should get vaccinated, Vavilala said. With the recent appointment of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who is a prominent vaccine skeptic, Kaufman West said she remains 'cautiously optimistic' that he will make decisions based on data and research. 'I'm just hoping that there is a sort of reevaluation of what's best for the American public, what's best for America's public health, what's best to keep us all safe and healthy. Obviously, vaccines are a huge part of that,' Kaufman West said. Other precautions to take are washing your hands frequently, covering your mouth and nose while coughing, and avoiding touching your mouth and nose, Vavilala said. Once sick, anyone infected should stay home, rest, drink fluids and wash their hands often, Kaufman West said. akukulka@
Chicago Tribune
16-02-2025
- Health
- Chicago Tribune
Lake County reports highest rate of flu-like cases in Indiana, cases rising nationally
Lake County has the highest mortality rate this flu season with 10 deaths reported, according to the Indiana Department of Health. In total, 57 Indiana residents have died from flu this season, which spans from October through May in the U.S., according to the Indiana Department of Health. After Lake County, Marion County has reported 8 flu deaths, while the remaining 90 counties have reported either none or under 5 deaths, according to the Indiana Department of Health. The Indiana Department of Health tracks influenza-like illness, or ILI, which is when a patient has a fever of 100 degrees or higher and a cough and/or sore throat. In the last week, the department reported that ILI in Indiana is very high, with emergency department and urgent care visits reporting 6.21% of patients with ILI and outpatient facilities reporting 6.08% of patients with ILI. Lake County reported 3.2% of patients and Porter County reported 3.8% of patients in emergency departments and urgent cares reported ILI symptoms this week, according to the Indiana Department of Health. Porter County reported 5.2% of patients and Lake County reported 2.9% of patients in outpatient facilities reported ILI symptoms this week, according to the Indiana Department of Health. Both of those data points are more than 1.25% higher than the previous week, according to the Indiana Department of Health. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows most of the country, particularly the Midwest and East Coast, are reporting very high and high levels of the flu. Lake County Health Officer Dr. Chandana Vavilala said a significant amount of flu infections have been reported in the county and throughout the state. Additionally, Norovirus is spreading at a higher rate than a typical winter, she said. Erica Kaufman West, the medical director of infectious diseases with Franciscan Physician Network, said it's about midway through flu season. If the data increases as the weeks go on, that would be unusual, she said. This flu season is one of the worst ones in recent years, Kaufman West said, as she's seen many more people hospitalized with severe flu-like symptoms. She's heard from patients that classroom sizes have felt smaller as five to six students have been out sick at the same time. 'We haven't seen a lot of high flu rates since COVID. So I think this is a little unusual in that case in that we haven't had one this bad recently,' Kaufman West said. This flu season, Kaufman West said the dominant symptoms have been high fever, muscle weakness and fatigue. The best protection against the flu is receiving the flu shot in October, Kaufman West said, as it takes about two weeks for the immune system to adjust to the vaccines. Anyone over the age of 65, with chronic medical conditions, diabetes, heart conditions and kidney problems should get vaccinated, Vavilala said. With the recent appointment of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who is a prominent vaccine skeptic, Kaufman West said she remains 'cautiously optimistic' that he will make decisions based on data and research. 'I'm just hoping that there is a sort of reevaluation of what's best for the American public, what's best for America's public health, what's best to keep us all safe and healthy. Obviously, vaccines are a huge part of that,' Kaufman West said. Other precautions to take are washing your hands frequently, covering your mouth and nose while coughing, and avoiding touching your mouth and nose, Vavilala said. Once sick, anyone infected should stay home, rest, drink fluids and wash their hands often, Kaufman West said.
Yahoo
09-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Lake County unveils mobile clinic to help expand health outreach
For Lake County Health Officer Dr. Chandana Vavilala, the new mobile health clinic is a game changer to improve health outcomes across the county. 'We believe it's a major step to make the preventative services more accessible for Lake County residents,' Vavilala said at Friday's ribbon cutting for the mobile clinic. 'By taking our services directly to the neighborhoods, schools, as well as community centers and ensuring people get resources they need there. we can break barriers to care, support school health also preventative care close to home and provide health education to people of all ages. 'We strongly believe transportation and bus schedules should not prevent people from accessing health care. The clinic is (meant) to eliminate these barriers and bring essential services directly to every zip code and every area.' Attendees got to walk through the mobile clinic, which includes an exam room and a blood draw station. Vavilala said the mobile clinic cost around $250,000, which was paid for out of the $4.87 million in state funding the health department received as part of the Health First Indiana initiative, which was created in 2023 by the Indiana legislature. Vavilala said Lake County Health Department staff visited Plymouth and Porter County to see how their units work. Vavilala said now that the clinic is up and running the health department will post on social media where the clinic will be traveling as well as give residents the chance to request the mobile clinic to come to their communities. 'We will closely work with schools, closely work with the community center, medical providers, as well as the local organizations to ensure our clinic reaches those with the greatest need and the right services at each community,' Vavilala said. Former Gov. Eric Holcomb pitched Health First Indiana as a way to improve the overall health of Hoosiers, an area where the state consistently ranks among the worst in the nation. As of June 2024, the state rate of children under 3 years old receiving the recommended vaccine series is 59.1% and the Lake County rate is 43%, which ranks the county at 89 out of 92 counties. The state infant mortality rate is 6.8% the county rate is 7.26%, and the state adult obesity rate is 43.6% while the county rate is 44.7%, according to the scorecard. The state smoking rate during pregnancy is 6.6% while the county rate is 3.8%, and the state rate for smoking is 21% and the county rate is 18.6%. The state suicide rate is 15.77% while the county rate is 12.3%, according to the scorecard. Many of the department's community partners were present at the clinic's launch, including Purdue Extension Nutrition Service, Gary Harm Reduction, Tobacco Free — Lake County, Mental Health America, St. John Fire Department, and Franciscan Health's Prenatal Assistance Program. One of Health First Indiana's particular areas of focus has been improving infant and maternal mortality rates, particularly among Black women. A'onesty Cross and Jackie Carter are Community Health Prenatal Care Coordinators with Franciscan, with Cross focusing on the education component and Carter gathering and reporting the data to the state. Cross said the program ensures that pregnant moms have a doctor, insurance, and perinatal education, which focuses on safe and healthy habits and advocating for yourself. Once babies are born, the moms are educated on putting baby to sleep safely and car seat safety. They have access to a diaper pantry and a clinical therapist for moms, free of charge, she said. 'We make sure they have wraparound services,' Cross said. 'We want to see all babies reach their first birthday.' Carter works with the state's Fetal Infant Mortality Review Team, which implements ways to educate moms to avoid future infant deaths. Recently, she said they've seen an uptick in sleeping-related deaths, so Carter and the team have discussed with moms how important it is to put baby 'alone, on their back and in a crib,' Cross said. Lake County Commissioner Michael Repay, D-Hammond, said the mobile clinic is one way to provide health care 'wherever it is (needed).' 'I think there are identifiable metrics that we can see the positive results of the (Health First Indiana) investment,' Repay said. 'I think today we have more or less anecdotal positive events occurring from it, but I want evidence and I believe we'll get it. I think we're doing good work, it just needs to be measured and I hope that the state understands that and continues to support the programs in Lake County.' cnance@
Chicago Tribune
09-02-2025
- Health
- Chicago Tribune
Lake County unveils mobile clinic to help expand health outreach
For Lake County Health Officer Dr. Chandana Vavilala, the new mobile health clinic is a game changer to improve health outcomes across the county. 'We believe it's a major step to make the preventative services more accessible for Lake County residents,' Vavilala said at Friday's ribbon cutting for the mobile clinic. 'By taking our services directly to the neighborhoods, schools, as well as community centers and ensuring people get resources they need there. we can break barriers to care, support school health also preventative care close to home and provide health education to people of all ages. 'We strongly believe transportation and bus schedules should not prevent people from accessing health care. The clinic is (meant) to eliminate these barriers and bring essential services directly to every zip code and every area.' Attendees got to walk through the mobile clinic, which includes an exam room and a blood draw station. Vavilala said the mobile clinic cost around $250,000, which was paid for out of the $4.87 million in state funding the health department received as part of the Health First Indiana initiative, which was created in 2023 by the Indiana legislature. Vavilala said Lake County Health Department staff visited Plymouth and Porter County to see how their units work. Vavilala said now that the clinic is up and running the health department will post on social media where the clinic will be traveling as well as give residents the chance to request the mobile clinic to come to their communities. 'We will closely work with schools, closely work with the community center, medical providers, as well as the local organizations to ensure our clinic reaches those with the greatest need and the right services at each community,' Vavilala said. Former Gov. Eric Holcomb pitched Health First Indiana as a way to improve the overall health of Hoosiers, an area where the state consistently ranks among the worst in the nation. As of June 2024, the state rate of children under 3 years old receiving the recommended vaccine series is 59.1% and the Lake County rate is 43%, which ranks the county at 89 out of 92 counties. The state infant mortality rate is 6.8% the county rate is 7.26%, and the state adult obesity rate is 43.6% while the county rate is 44.7%, according to the scorecard. The state smoking rate during pregnancy is 6.6% while the county rate is 3.8%, and the state rate for smoking is 21% and the county rate is 18.6%. The state suicide rate is 15.77% while the county rate is 12.3%, according to the scorecard. Many of the department's community partners were present at the clinic's launch, including Purdue Extension Nutrition Service, Gary Harm Reduction, Tobacco Free — Lake County, Mental Health America, St. John Fire Department, and Franciscan Health's Prenatal Assistance Program. One of Health First Indiana's particular areas of focus has been improving infant and maternal mortality rates, particularly among Black women. A'onesty Cross and Jackie Carter are Community Health Prenatal Care Coordinators with Franciscan, with Cross focusing on the education component and Carter gathering and reporting the data to the state. Cross said the program ensures that pregnant moms have a doctor, insurance, and perinatal education, which focuses on safe and healthy habits and advocating for yourself. Once babies are born, the moms are educated on putting baby to sleep safely and car seat safety. They have access to a diaper pantry and a clinical therapist for moms, free of charge, she said. 'We make sure they have wraparound services,' Cross said. 'We want to see all babies reach their first birthday.' Carter works with the state's Fetal Infant Mortality Review Team, which implements ways to educate moms to avoid future infant deaths. Recently, she said they've seen an uptick in sleeping-related deaths, so Carter and the team have discussed with moms how important it is to put baby 'alone, on their back and in a crib,' Cross said. Lake County Commissioner Michael Repay, D-Hammond, said the mobile clinic is one way to provide health care 'wherever it is (needed).' 'I think there are identifiable metrics that we can see the positive results of the (Health First Indiana) investment,' Repay said. 'I think today we have more or less anecdotal positive events occurring from it, but I want evidence and I believe we'll get it. I think we're doing good work, it just needs to be measured and I hope that the state understands that and continues to support the programs in Lake County.'
