2016 flu-related hospitalizations number 203 compared to 7,985 at this time last year

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

Influenzalike illness is widespread in Mahoning County and throughout Ohio, and the numbers of associated hospitalizations took a big jump for the first time this season, according to county and state health officials.

Last week, there were 203 new confirmed influenza-associated hospitalizations in Ohio compared with 93 from the week before, bringing the total to 653 since the flu season began last October.

By comparison, there were 7,985 total flu-associated hospitalizations at the same time last year when the flu vaccine was not well-matched for circulating flu viruses, which has not been an issue this year, reported the Ohio Department of Health.

“We’ve had an uptick in the number of flu cases and hospitalizations locally, but overall, a much lower hospitalization rate compared to 2015 at this time,” said Patricia Sweeney, commissioner of the Mahoning County District Board of Health.

Much of the lower numbers this year is because the influenza vaccine has a 59 percent efficacy, which is very good and superior to 2015’s flu vaccine, Sweeney said.

“It still is not too late to get immunized,” she added.

Flu activity this season started a bit later and has been lower so far than the previous three seasons, but according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, activity still is on the rise and expected to continue for several weeks.

“Influenza vaccination is the safest and most-effective way to prevent the flu, except for infants younger than 6 months who aren’t eligible to receive it,” said Dr. Mary DiOrio, medical director of ODH. “Vaccination can reduce flu illnesses, doctors’ visits and missed work and school.”

“There are no flu-vaccine shortages across Ohio. The short time it will take to get a flu vaccine is much less than the time it will take to recover from the flu,” DiOrio said.

Though vaccination provides the greatest protection against the flu, other effective ways to avoid getting or spreading it include, washing hands frequently or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer; covering coughs and sneezes with tissues, or coughing or sneezing into elbows; avoiding touching eyes, nose and mouth; and staying home when sick and until fever-free for 24 hours without using fever-reducing medication, health officials said.

While influenza-associated pediatric deaths must be reported to the ODH, adult deaths are not reportable, so total influenza-associated death statistics are not available. There have been no pediatric deaths reported this season.