Acute Respiratory Illness

Acute respiratory illness (ARI) is defined as illness characterized by any two (2) of the following:

• Fever*
• Cough (new or worsening, productive or nonproductive)
•  Rhinorrhea (runny nose) or nasal congestion
• Sore throat
• Myalgia (muscle aches) greater than the resident’s norm
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Low SpO2 (oxygen saturation in the blood, normal levels are between 95 and 100%, but may vary for people with certain medical conditions)
• New loss of taste or smell

 *Fever may be difficult to determine among elderly residents. Therefore, the definition of fever used for ARI is defined as temperature two degrees (2°F) above the established baseline for that resident.

 Pneumonia is defined as radiographic evidence of new or increased pulmonary infiltrates, usually accompanied by fever. It is strongly recommended that all clinically diagnosed pneumonia be followed with radiographic testing.

 A respiratory disease outbreak in a LTCF is defined by the Division of Public Health (DPH) as three or more residents and/or staff from the same unit with illness onsets within 72 hours of each other and who have:

•  Pneumonia, or
•  ARI, or
•  Laboratory-confirmed viral or bacterial infection (including influenza)

Resouces:

• State Guidelines for Acute Respiratory Illness in LTCF 
• Outbreak Intake Form for Respiratory Illness
• Outbreak Line List for Respiratory Illness 
• Outbreak Follow Up Form for Respiratory Illness
• Influenza Fact Sheet (English) 
• Influenza Fact Sheet (Spanish) 
• Handwashing Fact Sheet (English) 
• Handwashing Fact Sheet (Spanish) 

2023 Public Health Annual Report 

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Contact Us

Dept. of Health and Human Services
Address: 514 Riverview Avenue
Waukesha WI, 53188
Phone: (262) 896-8430
Fax: (262) 970-6670
TollFree: 1-800-540-3620
Email: [email protected]

The Public Health Immunization Clinic is open by appointment only. To schedule an appointment, call (262) 896-8430. 

The Nurse Call Center is available by phone:
Monday-Friday. (8 AM – 4:30 PM)

WIC Clinic is open for services by appointment only. For more information call 262-896-8440. Enter thorugh the Public Health main entrance.
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday (8:15 AM - 4 PM)
Tuesdays (10:30 AM - 5:30 PM)

If you are experiencing a medical emergency, please contact a medical professional or call 911.

The Public Health Division will be closed to the public for the following observed holidays in 2024:

• New Year’s Eve (Dec 31ST - Sunday)

• New Year’s Day (Jan 1st - Monday)

• (2023 - 2024) will be observed Monday, January 1, 2024, and Tuesday, January 2, 2024.  (New Year’s Eve falls on a Sunday)

• Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Junior Day will be observed Monday, January 15, 2024. 

• Memorial Day will be observed Monday, May 27, 2024.

• Independence Day will be observed Thursday, July 4, 2024.

• Labor Day will be observed Monday, September 2, 2024.

• Thanksgiving Day and the day after Thanksgiving will be observed Thursday, November 28, 2024, and Friday, November 29, 2024. 

• Christmas Eve (Dec 24th) and Christmas Day (Dec 25th) will be observed Tuesday, December 24, 2024, and Wednesday, December 25, 2024.

• New Year’s Eve (Dec 31ST) and New Year’s Day (Jan 1st) (2024 – 2025) will be observed Tuesday, December 31, 2024, and Wednesday, January 1, 2025.