5 months ago
- Metro
- Published: Dec. 31, 2025, 3:19 p.m.
CLEVELAND, Ohio — A teen from Greene County is Ohio’s first reported flu-related pediatric decease of nan 2025-26 flu season, nan Ohio Department of Health said Wednesday.
“This decease is tragic and our hearts spell retired to nan family,” said Ohio Department of Health head Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff. “It besides reminds america that influenza, though common, is simply a superior wellness threat, and we impulse parents to protect their kids.”
Greene County is located successful southwest Ohio adjacent Dayton.
Flu activity usually peaks betwixt December and February. In Ohio, flu activity has been expanding since precocious November and has accrued much quickly complete nan past fewer weeks, authorities wellness officials said.
Ohio mostly reports betwixt 1 and 7 influenza-associated pediatric deaths each flu season.
In Cuyahoga County, influenza activity accrued from debased to mean successful December. No pediatric aliases big influenza-related deaths person been recorded successful Cuyahoga County this flu season.
While location were only 13 flu-related hospitalizations successful early December, nan number jumped to 38 for nan week ending Dec. 13, and 66 for nan week ending Dec. 20, according to region data.
This play is connected way to beryllium akin to past flu play successful Cuyahoga County, which saw debased to mean numbers of flu-related hospitalizations successful December 2024. Last play peaked successful precocious February 2025, erstwhile influenza-related hospitalizations deed 211 successful a azygous week, according to region data.
Nationally, nan flu play is disconnected to a terrible and early start, pinch outpatient visits for flu-like unwellness already high, according to nan CDC. A mutated strain of influenza A, known arsenic H3N2 subclade K, is believed to beryllium down nan surge successful flu-related illness.
There person been 4.6 cardinal flu cases nationwide this season, pinch 49,000 hospitalizations and 1,900 deaths, according to nan CDC’s latest study released Dec. 19.
Getting an yearly flu changeable is nan champion measurement to protect yourself and your family from nan flu. It tin trim illnesses, expert visits, and missed activity and school, arsenic good arsenic forestall flu-related hospitalizations.
“It’s not excessively precocious to get a flu vaccine,” Vanderhoff said. “It could forestall you aliases your loved ones from getting earnestly ill. And, particularly during flu season, it’s important to support bully manus hygiene and to enactment location if you are sick.”
Flu vaccines are disposable astatine astir healthcare providers’ offices, section wellness departments, and unit pharmacies.
Vaccine finders are disposable here and here.
Call nan Cuyahoga County Board of Health astatine 216-201-2041 to make an assignment to get nan flu shot.
There are besides prescription antiviral drugs that tin lessen symptoms and shorten nan clip you are sick. These medications activity champion erstwhile taken wrong 1 to 2 days aft flu symptoms begin.
Other effective ways to debar getting aliases spreading nan flu see washing hands often aliases utilizing alcohol-based manus sanitizer, covering coughs and sneezes pinch tissues aliases coughing aliases sneezing into elbows, and avoiding rubbing your eyes, nose, and mouth.
More accusation astir flu tin beryllium recovered connected ODH’s influenza website. Information connected flu activity successful Ohio tin beryllium recovered connected ODH’s Respiratory Dashboard.
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