State reports continued drop in Ohio flu hospitalizations

COLUMBUS (AP) — Ohio health officials say the number of flu-related hospitalizations continued to fall last week as an unusually severe season winds down.

Numbers released Friday by the Ohio Department of Health showed 130 flu-related hospitalizations from Feb. 8 to Feb. 14, down from 212 a week earlier.

The new numbers bring the season’s total hospitalizations to 7,738. The state doesn’t report adult flu deaths but has recorded the deaths of six children. Individual county health departments have also reported several adult deaths.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says this season’s vaccine may not protect as well against the dominant flu strain.

Health officials say getting the vaccine is still important, especially for the chronically ill, the elderly and pregnant women.