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) 

Public Health Services

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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: hhs@waukeshacounty.gov

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 2023:

• Memorial Day- Monday, May 29, 2023
• Independence Day- Tuesday, July 4, 2023
• Labor Day- Monday September 4, 2023
• Thanksgiving Day and the Day after Thanksgiving- Thursday, November 23, 2023, and Friday, November 24, 2023
• Christmas Eve and Christmas Day - Monday, December 25, 2023, and Tuesday, December 26, 2023
• New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day (2022-2023) - Monday, January 1, 2023, and Tuesday, January 3, 2023