INSIDE
SPORTS Raiders win at the buzzer
www.bolingbrookbugle.com
PAGE 13
NEWS Village OKs off track betting parlor
PAGE 3
Our Village, Our News
JANUARY 17, 2013
Vol. 6 No. 27
Flu hits area hard Illinois influenza strain has been more severe, causing more hospitalizations and deaths By Laura Katauskas Staff Reporter
Clean. Cover. Contain. That is, clean your hands; cover your cough, cover your sneeze; and contain your illness. These three “Cs” just may be the best prevention in addition to a flu shot against an outbreak that is wreaking havoc across the nation, with 27 flu-related deaths reported in Illinois alone. The Illinois Department of Health reports that the strain of flu predominately circulating throughout Illinois has historically been a more
severe strain, causing increased numbers of hospitalizations and deaths than in previous years, with 368 flu-related intensive care unit (ICU) hospitalizations so far this year. The majority of hospitalizations and deaths are of people in their 50s and older. Adventist Bolingbrook Hospital alone reports that since the start of January, 195 people have been tested due to flu-like illness. Of those, 67 of them came back testing positive for flu. And not every person who comes in displaying flu-like symptoms is tested. Some people may be
treated and sent home because they don’t require hospitalization. Valley View School District, one of the largest school districts in Will County, has seen attendance dip significantly, with peaks in November and the last weeks of December. “There is no doubt we are experiencing a severe flu season. However, we have seen severe flu seasons before, and we will continue to work to reduce the number of people who become ill,” said Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. See FLU, page 5