Leavenworth County Health Department

02/05/2026

Respiratory Surveillance Update | January 18–24, 2026

Influenza activity across Kansas has increased to very high levels. The Kansas City Metropolitan Area, which includes Leavenworth County, continues to be classified as very high based on current influenza surveillance data.

Weekly monitoring highlights include:
• 18.0% of tests were positive for influenza, predominantly Influenza A (H3N2), an increase from 17.7% last week
• 4.7% of visits to health care providers were for respiratory illness, up from 4.4% last week
• 26.4 weekly hospitalizations per 100,000 residents, a decrease from 43.5 last week
• Influenza-related hospital admissions decreased to 15,080, compared to 17,963 the previous week
• Eight influenza-associated deaths were reported this week, bringing the seasonal total to 52

Influenza continues to circulate widely in our community. Residents are encouraged to take steps to reduce the spread of illness, including staying home when sick, washing hands frequently, covering coughs and sneezes, and cleaning commonly touched surfaces. Annual flu vaccination remains one of the most effective ways to prevent severe illness, hospitalization, and complications from influenza. Individuals experiencing severe symptoms or who are at higher risk for complications should seek medical care promptly.

02/05/2026

Our friends at Leavenworth County EMS are hiring Paramedics, and if you enjoy 24-hour shifts, controlled adrenaline, and being everyone’s favorite person on their worst day… this might be your calling.

Under the supervision of a shift officer, you’ll work a 24-hour Berkeley schedule providing advanced life support, responding to ambulance calls, rendering medical care like a pro, and safely transporting patients where they need to go. All heroic acts performed according to policy, procedure, and medical direction (sorry, no cowboy medicine 🤠)

Perks that make it worth the pager going off:

KP&F Retirement Plan (future you says thanks)
Health, Vision & Dental Insurance
County Personnel Health Clinic
Life Insurance
Employee Assistance Program (because EMS)
Health Savings Account (HSA)
13 days of Paid Time Off
Parental Leave
Tuition Reimbursement
EMT-to-Paramedic Sponsorship Program (we love a glow-up)

If you’re ready to save lives, serve your community, and work with a solid crew, Leavenworth County EMS wants you.

FYI: If you can’t scan the QR code, save the photo to your phone and tap the QR code, it’ll take you straight to the application.

01/28/2026

Blood donors save lives every single day. From emergency surgeries and trauma care to cancer treatments and chronic illness management, donated blood is a critical lifeline for patients in need.

Winter months often bring a drop in donations due to weather and illness, making this an especially important time to roll up your sleeve. One donation can help save up to three lives.

If you’re eligible, consider scheduling a blood donation and encourage friends and family to do the same. Your generosity can make a life-saving difference in our community.

Thank you to all blood donors for helping keep our healthcare system strong.

With five donation locations across Leavenworth County, signing up today gives you the chance to help others and save lives:
https://www.redcross.org/give-blood.html?srsltid=AfmBOopXlGBUFEb1giTLPmhfaT9EyBTTcKGK--ND9IHi7AHr6jQjtU-E

01/27/2026

Respiratory Surveillance Update
January 11–17, 2026

Influenza activity across Kansas remains high, and the Kansas City Metro Area, which includes Leavenworth County, continues to be classified as very high based on flu surveillance data.

Monitoring highlights for this week include:
• 17.7% of tests were positive for influenza, predominantly Influenza A (H3N2) (down from 18.6% last week)
• 4.4% of visits to a health care provider were for respiratory illness (down from 5.3% last week)
• 43.5 weekly hospitalizations per 100,000 residents (down from 50.4 last week)
• Hospital admissions with influenza decreased to 17,963, down from 27,428 the previous week
• 12 influenza-associated deaths were reported this week, bringing the seasonal total to 44

It is common to see influenza activity begin to level off or gradually decline toward the end of January as community immunity increases and holiday-related gatherings decrease.

However, flu season is not over. Influenza can continue to circulate into the spring. We encourage everyone to continue practicing good hand hygiene, stay home when sick, and consider vaccination if you have not already done so.

01/27/2026

When bad storms roll through and cause power outages, we may have some anxiety when it comes to food. We may not have a back-up energy source available so, it can be extremely helpful to have some meal options on hand that do not require heating.

Some options could include:

• Canned items (fruits, vegetables, tuna, chicken, pasta, beans)
• Packaged snacks (protein bars, jerky, trail mix, just add water cereal cups, oatmeal packets, peanut butter)

Here are some recipe ideas that do not require heat and can take advantage of pantry staples you may already have at home. Also check out the links for helpful information on food safety before, during, and after a power outage. What items are safe? What items do I need to toss out? How long is food good for without refrigeration?

https://www.tasteofhome.com/collection/recipes-if-youve-lost-power/

https://www.foodsafety.gov/food-safety-charts/food-safety-during-power-outage

https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/types-of-emergencies/food-safety.html

This information is brought to you by the Leavenworth County Women, Infants, Children (WIC) program which serves income eligible pregnant, postpartum and breastfeeding women, and infants and children up to age five. WIC provides participants with healthy foods, nutrition education and referrals to other available services. Contact 913-250-2040 for more information about the WIC program.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

01/23/2026

You may have heard the saying “Kids shouldn’t drink coffee. It’ll stunt their growth.” What are the actual effects of caffeine in kids and why should we avoid it? Caffeine is a simulant drug that boosts alertness, energy and brain activity. It occurs naturally in some foods like coffee, cacao beans, and tea leaves, for example. Caffeine can also be made in a lab to be added to other foods, drinks, and medicines. Children and teen brains and bodies are more sensitive to caffeine than adults.

Side effects can include:
• Fast or irregular heartbeat
• Elevated blood pressure
• Rapid breathing
• Anxiety
• Nausea
• Restlessness
• Diarrhea
• Sleep loss

Caffeine itself may not directly impact growth, but it can affect appetite and get in the way of other nutrients kids need to grow. When caffeine causes sleep disruption, it can impact mood, thinking, digestion and ability to avoid getting sick. Sleep is so important for child brain development!

According to the American Academy of pediatrics “Avoiding caffeine is the best choice for all kids.” For most adults, under 400mg daily is generally not associated with side effects. During pregnancy it is recommended to have less than 200mg daily. While breastfeeding it is recommended to have less than 300mg daily.
Check out these links for more information on the dangers of caffeine intake in kids/teens.

https://www.healthychildren.org/English/healthy-living/nutrition/Pages/the-effects-of-caffeine-on-kids-a-parents-guide.aspx

https://healthyeatingresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Infographic_-Caffeine.pdf

https://www.eatingwell.com/is-it-safe-for-kids-to-drink-caffeine-8404989

This information is brought to you by the Leavenworth County Women, Infants, Children (WIC) program which serves income eligible pregnant, postpartum and breastfeeding women, and infants and children up to age five. WIC provides participants with healthy foods, nutrition education and referrals to other available services. Contact 913-250-2040 for more information about the WIC program.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

01/23/2026

Someone mentioned a snowpocalypse, and winter immediately chose chaos. With snow on the way and temperatures dropping into the negative degrees (how rude), we want to help everyone stay warm, safe and cozy this weekend.

Hopefully you braved the grocery store madness and can go straight home after this workday. If you're clutching bread and milk, we see you! Before you hunker down and declare your couch your forever home, here are a few friendly reminders to help keep you and your home safe during the cold and snow:

• Limit your time outdoors and layer up, our fashion choices are now survival mode clothing.
• I promise, your furniture doesn’t like being toastier than you. Keep your space heaters several feet away from anything flammable.
• Never leave heaters unattended and do not use them while sleeping, our firefighter friends would rather not make a house call that displaces anyone.
• Use approved heating sources only. No ovens, and no grills, even if you’re craving that “campfire night” save it for later.
• Let your faucets drip. Your plumbing and pocket will thank you.
• Give your cabinet doors a spa day and leave the doors open to allow air to circulate.
• If you MUST travel make sure to bring extra warm clothes, blankets, snacks, water, and a fully charged phone. You never know when adventure turns into stuck in the snow mode and it’s easier to call for help than send a search party.
• Make sure your emergency kit is in your vehicle and ready to go – please tell us you already have one in your car at all times!

We hope everyone has a warm, sage and uneventful weekend (the good kind of uneventful)! ☺️

01/21/2026

Flu Update | Week of January 4 – January 10

Kansas has shifted from "very high" to "high" activity levels on the CDC's weekly influenza surveillance report for the week ending January 10th.

Key Surveillance Highlights for This Week:

18.6% of tests were positive for influenza, predominantly Influenza A (H3N2).
5.3% of healthcare visits were for respiratory illnesses, a slight decrease from 7.2% the previous week.
The weekly hospitalization rate decreased to 50.4 per 100,000 residents.
Hospital admissions for influenza totaled 27,428, down from 39,946 last week.
Influenza-related deaths accounted for 2.1% of all deaths, with 15 reported this week, bringing the season's total to 32.
If you're experiencing flu-like symptoms, please take precautions: avoid close contact with others, practice good respiratory hygiene by covering coughs and sneezes, wash your hands frequently, and stay home, when possible, to prevent spreading the virus.

While there have been some positive declines in certain indicators this week, we continue to see an increase in flu-related deaths. Remember, just because some numbers are improving doesn’t mean the risk has passed flu activity typically peaks between December and February, and the season generally runs from October through May.

01/12/2026

Flu Update | Week of December 28 – January 3

Influenza activity remains high across the United States, placing continued strain on health care systems and affecting many individuals in our communities. Although some indicators show modest declines, increases in hospitalizations, admissions, and flu-related deaths demonstrate that significant risk remains in the weeks ahead. Ongoing prevention efforts are essential to help limit further spread.

Key surveillance highlights this week:

- 24.7% of tests were positive for influenza, with the majority identified as Influenza A (H3N2).
- 7.2% of visits to health care providers were for respiratory illness (down slightly from 8.2% the previous week).
- The weekly hospitalization rate increased to 54.1 per 100,000 residents, up from 31.3 last week.
- 39,945 patients were admitted to hospitals with influenza, compared to 33,301 the previous week.
- 1.9% of deaths were attributed to influenza. Eight influenza-associated pediatric deaths were reported this week, bringing the seasonal total to 17.

If you are experiencing flu-like symptoms, please avoid close contact with others, practice good respiratory hygiene by covering coughs and sneezes, wash hands frequently, and stay home when possible, to reduce exposure.

Staying informed and taking preventive measures helps protect not only yourself, but our community as a whole. It is not too late to receive your flu vaccine to protect yourself from the flu season this year.

01/09/2026

If you are enrolled in KanCare, please watch for a phone call or letter requesting verification of your address. Failure to complete this step may result in a disruption of coverage, which can create challenges when seeking medical care and we do not want that to happen to you! :)

KanCare enrollees: Be on the lookout for an official call or letter from the KanCare program confirming your address. Respond right away to avoid a disruption in health coverage.

Visit https://bit.ly/3WxXT91 and click the red chat box, go https://bit.ly/4qLhWOJ, or call us at 1-800-792-4844 to update your address and phone number!

01/09/2026

Public health is built on strong partnerships, and law enforcement is one of many community partners we work alongside.

Today, we recognize our local law enforcement agencies and others who support public safety throughout our county for their dedication, collaboration, and sacrifice in keeping our community safe. We appreciate the work you do in partnership with public health, EMS, fire, and all first responders.

To those serving communities across the nation, we extend our appreciation to you as well.

01/09/2026

As your child ages their food preferences may change. This may cause some concerns for parents. “Is my child is getting enough to eat?” or “Are they getting enough nutrients in their diet?” There is a division of responsibility around meals/snacks between you and your child.

Your job is to: offer a variety of healthy foods and decide what time to have meals and snacks.

Your child’s job is to: decide if, what, and how much they will eat from the food choices provided.

This strategy helps kids to listen and understand what their bodies are telling them: Am I hungry? Am I full? Am I thirsty? Do I need something different? Having meals and snacks on a regular schedule also helps kids to know when they are feeling hungry and full. Child food portions are smaller than adult portions. It’s ok if your child doesn’t finish their plate at meals. You can use snacks to help them get the nutrients from food groups they leave on their plates at meals. Portion sizes change as your child gets older.

Check out these helpful links for more information on portion sizes and goals for the day:

https://www.healthychildren.org/English/healthy-living/nutrition/Pages/Portions-and-Serving-Sizes.aspx

https://www.myplate.gov/life-stages/preschoolers

https://www.myplate.gov/life-stages/toddlers

This information is brought to you by the Leavenworth County Women, Infants, Children (WIC) program which serves income eligible pregnant, postpartum and breastfeeding women, and infants and children up to age five. WIC provides participants with healthy foods, nutrition education and referrals to other available services. Contact 913-250-2040 for more information about the WIC program.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.