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Flu-related hospitalizations in Mahoning County dropped last week.
YOUNGSTOWN
Widespread seasonal flu continued across Ohio, but flu-related hospitalizations dropped in Mahoning County during the week ending Jan. 12.
According to the Ohio Department of Health, 2,503 influenza-associated hospitalizations had been reported statewide as of Jan. 12 for the 2012-13 flu season, which began in October 2012.
In Mahoning County, flu-related hospitalizations decreased during the same week, according to data collected by the Mahoning County Health Department in conjunction with the Youngstown Health Department.
As of Wednesday, the number of influenza-related pediatric deaths remain at one, according to the Ohio Department of Health’s weekly report.
Locally, there was also a drop last week in the number of people with flulike illnesses who visited hospital emergency rooms, local public health officials said.
So far this flu season, there have been 99 lab-confirmed flu cases and no flu-related pediatric deaths in Mahoning County, according to the county health department web site.
However, tissue samples were sent to the Ohio Department of Health laboratory to confirm or rule out influenza as the cause of the Jan. 12 death of Hunter Sean Ewert, 4, of Boardman.
Initial studies from Monday’s autopsy of Hunter’s body are consistent with a viral infection, said forensic pathologist Dr. Joseph Ohr. Results of testing by the ODH are not expected for several weeks, said Dr. Ohr, assistant Mahoning County coroner.
A memorial Mass for Hunter was at 4 p.m. Friday at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Boardman.
The flu season in Ohio does not usually go into high gear until January or February, but this year the number of influenza-related hospitalizations had nearly tripled by early December over 2012, the ODH reported. The current number of hospitalizations compares to 175 for the entire 2010-2011 season and 86 in the 2011-2012 season.