Flu status update for King County and Bellevue College
November 2, 2009
The following is the latest update from Seattle/King County Public Health on the flu season:
Flu activity in King County as of October 29, 2009
Several indicators continue to show rising influenza activity in King County. Emergency department visits for influenza-like illness have been increasing since the beginning of September and now exceed levels observed during the spring H1N1 outbreak. Hospital admits for 2009 H1N1 flu also currently exceed levels seen at the height of the spring outbreak. One death was reported this week in an adult male with predisposing conditions who died prior to arrival at a hospital; preliminary tests were positive for influenza A and confirmatory tests are pending to determine if the strain was 2009 H1N1. Clinics that are part of Public Health's outpatient surveillance system show an increase in both the number of specimens and the percentage of positive tests for influenza; levels of both are unusually high for this time of year. Local hospital laboratories have reported increased requests for rapid flu testing, and an increased proportion testing positive for flu. School absenteeism has been increasing in recent weeks across all age groups. However, information from past school years is not yet available for most school districts, so it usually cannot be determined whether the observed absenteeism is abnormal for this time of year.
Flu activity at Bellevue College at the end of October 2009
Bellevue College faculty and administrators were surveyed in October to determine the approximate level of flu-related absences currently impacting the college campus. The following information was gathered.
Reported Employee Absences October 29, 2009
Units Responding |
Classified/Exempt Absences |
Faculty Absences |
|---|---|---|
32 |
9 |
4 |
32 administrative units responded, including four of the five instructional divisions, the majority of Information Resources, and most of Continuing Education. Absence rates appear to be relatively low, as only six of the units reporting had any absences.
Reported Student Absences October 19-23, 2009
Sections |
Online |
Total Students |
Students Absent |
Moved to Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
146 |
13 |
3423 |
329 |
2 |
9 faculty members responded to the survey. The absence rate overall is just under 10%. However, the data from Arts & Humanities, which comprised nearly 50% of the responses, showed an absence rate of 13.3%, with one ELI instructor reporting absenteeism at 30.9%.
Arts & Humanities Reported Student Absences October 19-23, 2009
Sections |
Online |
Total Students |
Students Absent |
Moved to Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
69 |
2 |
1524 |
203 |
0 |