Flu activity moderate, expected to increase
Whooping cough, pediatric pneumonia, COVID on rise in area.
Ohio is seeing a moderate level of influenza activity and doctors said they believe they’ll see cases increase after the first of the year, similar to flu seasons before the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ohio Department of Health says.
Regional outbreaks of whooping cough and pediatric pneumonia cases are on the rise, too, health departments say, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports increases of COVID-related emergency department visits, hospitalizations and deaths.
Ohio hospitalizations below 5-year average
“Currently we’re seeing a seasonal increase in various respiratory diseases, which is not uncommon for this time of year,” said Dan Suffoletto, public health manager for Public Health - Dayton and Montgomery County.
The most recent state data show 106 flu-related hospitalizations in the past week and a total of 298 so far this season. While the most recent hospitalizations are an 112% change over last week, these figures are below the five-year average.
Of outpatient health visits, approximately 3.69% are due to flu-like symptoms, according to ODH, an increase of 16.77%.
Montgomery County reported 25 flu-related hospitalizations, according to ODH, and other area counties remain low.
Butler County is the second-highest in the Dayton-region counties, with a total of 13 flu-related hospitalizations this season, according to ODH.
“So far, Butler County’s data would indicate that we are on pace for a typical flu season where we see most influenza-related hospitalizations after the first of the year,” said Butler County Health Commissioner Erik Balster.
Those hospitalized for flu-related illness in Butler County were between 42 and 76 years old.
The rest of the Dayton region has fewer than five cases in each county.