CLEVELAND: Is it just me, or has everyone been ill lately? According to Ohio health officials, the number of flu-like symptoms in the state is rising.
Every week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention publish a report that details the national influenza situation.
The Ohio flu activity was rated by the CDC to be “very high” for the week ending on February 10. Since late December, this is the first time the state’s activity has exceeded “high.”
“Very high” activity is also being observed in South Carolina, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Wyoming. New York City and Washington, D.C. are also experiencing “very high” rates.
Uncontrolled Peacock in Willoughby
The cases aren’t always verified in a lab, as the CDC notes that the data is based on physician visits for respiratory diseases that include fever cough or sore throat.
The Ohio Department of Health reports that from October 1 to February 10, during the 2023–2024 flu season, Northeast Ohio has witnessed the highest number of hospitalizations related to the flu.
Cuyahoga County has been the most severely affected, according to Ohio health officials, with 648 hospitalizations related to the flu this season. Franklin County has the next-highest number of hospitalizations in the state, with 435.
What odor was that? Wooster representatives justify. In Ohio, the flu season usually lasts until March.
The CDC advises getting the flu shot annually for everyone six months of age and older, and health authorities say it’s not too late for Ohioans to do so. Find out more about making an appointment for a vaccine here.
