McHenry County Health Department reports pertussis rise, expands mobile clinic testing and point-of-care services

Assistant Director Buck told the McHenry County Board of Health on Jan. 13 that seasonal respiratory illness transmission is beginning to decline but that the department is managing multiple active outbreaks while expanding local testing and mobile services.

"So first of all, the seasonal respiratory, illnesses, there was a big increase in the transmission, but the CDC put out a notice this morning, actually, that they're seeing signs of decline," Assistant Director Buck said. "We currently have 19 active outbreaks that include the seasonal respiratory illnesses along with these GI outbreaks."

Why it matters: Higher outbreak counts and a large increase in pertussis cases affect staffing, testing capacity and outreach priorities for nursing and community health. The department described both short-term point-of-care testing and a longer-term plan to expand mobile clinic services and school-based immunization outreach.

The department reported a sharp year-over-year rise in pertussis: "for example, in 2023 in McHenry County, we have 13. This year, currently for 2024, at the end of the year, we had 82," Assistant Director Buck said. Staff said hospitalization rates appear to be lower than in earlier years and that many cases are in vaccinated people; the department is watching older adults with comorbidities closely.

Point-of-care testing: The health department opened a short-term point-of-care testing workflow during cold-weather conditions after the mobile trailer could not be kept warm enough. Staff described a drive-up model: nurses swab patients at vehicles, run tests in about 15 minutes, and provide immediate guidance. Out of 16 patients seen during the first week of the pilot (with 5 cancellations noted), five returned a positive result for influenza A/B or COVID-19; staff later clarified two positives were influenza and two were COVID. RSV testing kits had just arrived and will be included going forward.

Mobile clinic and WIC services: Staff reported the county’s mobile clinic calendar is now live on the department website and a navigator is coordinating bookings. The department is aiming to begin mobile WIC services once state approval is final; staff said they hope to run at least some WIC services from the mobile clinic by March (state approval permitting). Director Heck told the board that WIC’s last day at the Crystal Lake site is expected to be Feb. 6 and that WIC will operate from Woodstock and the mobile clinic during and after the renovation.

School and community outreach: Staff said they are coordinating with the Harvard School District for an April/May immunization event timed after school hours (2–6 p.m.) to reach families; the department plans to schedule clinics at off-site locations while the Crystal Lake center is renovated. Board members recommended measuring mobile clinic utilization and presenting results to the county board after six months.

Education and partnerships: Staff described community distribution of harm-reduction supplies and medication-deactivation kits as part of equity and substance-use efforts. Board members suggested pairing mobile clinic events with incentives (for example, an ice-cream vendor) and lining up attendees to encourage early turnout; staff said they would incorporate lessons learned from past outreach events about documentation and required identification to reduce barriers.

What’s next: Staff said they will continue the point-of-care pilot, add RSV testing, maintain mobile clinic metrics, finalize state approvals for WIC on the mobile unit and report back with utilization and effectiveness measures.