Peoria, IL (CHAMBANA TODAY) — As families gather, travel increases and schools break for the holidays, health experts say flu activity is expected to rise across the Midwest, making prevention and planning especially important this winter.
National surveillance data shows influenza activity already increasing on the East and West Coasts, with health officials anticipating wider spread in coming weeks. Doug Kasper, MD, an infectious disease specialist with OSF HealthCare, says seasonal travel and gatherings create ideal conditions for viruses to spread.
“We’re in a unique part of the year. We had Thanksgiving and we’re going into the Christmas and New Year holiday. We have schools on breaks and people traveling,” Kasper says. “We notice nationwide that when there’s viral activity on the coasts, it will eventually find its way into every part of the area, which includes Central Illinois.”
Health agencies including the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Illinois Department of Public Health are encouraging families to stay alert to symptoms and take preventive steps.
Vaccination remains one of the most effective tools for reducing severe illness and keeping daily routines intact, especially for households with children, older adults or immunocompromised relatives.
“People will start to travel and be around older and younger family members as families congregate. We want people to protect themselves but also be able to enjoy those activities without getting sick,” Kasper says. “It’s also a time where kids are bringing home infections from school. So, we want our kids to be in school and participate in activities. Anything we can offer them to help keep them in their normal routine is beneficial, which includes flu vaccines for our children.”
Even with vaccination, experts stress that staying home when ill is critical to limiting the spread of infection, particularly in schools and other shared spaces.
“If you are sick, you need to stay home. Especially in our school populations, it’s hard when a child is sick. Maybe they’re borderline and you don’t know how sick they are, it’s hard to remain home,” Kasper says. “We see a lot of infections that start at the level where we congregate. Whether that’s at school or a medical facility, it will find its way into our homes. So, the way to try and address that is that if you’re sick, particularly if you have a fever, is to stay home. At least be without a fever for 24 hours before resuming normal activity.”
Public health officials recommend keeping children home if they have a fever, vomiting, a severe cough or other flu-like symptoms. Common signs of the flu include fever, body aches, extreme fatigue, headache, cough, runny or stuffy nose, sneezing, sore throat, vomiting or diarrhea. While fever and aches often last three to seven days, cough and fatigue can linger for two weeks or longer.
Health experts say simple steps—getting vaccinated, washing hands, covering coughs and staying home when sick—can help families protect themselves and enjoy the holiday season more safely.
