Flu’s worst is in past (cross your fingers)

Go ahead and hope for the best, but keep washing those hands.

Most every sign that publichealth officials watch is pointing toward the beginning of flu’s decline this season.

Flu, which made an early entry into Ohio, has been rampant and severe this year, in part because of an annual vaccine found to be only 23 percent effective in a government study released this week.

Data from last week show that doctor’s-office and emergency-department visits for flulike illnesses, thermometer sales and flu-related Internet searches have dropped. That’s all good news from the perspective of the Ohio Department of Health, said spokeswoman Melanie Amato.

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One important measure did go up: flu-associated hospitalizations. There were 1,623 reported in Ohio for last week, but that’s likely not as troubling as it seems because many local health departments had some lag in reporting after the holidays and added older numbers to last week’s tally, Amato said in an email.

Meanwhile, health officials are keeping an eye on a couple of clusters of pertussis, or whooping cough, in Bexley and Upper Arlington schools, said Franklin County Health Commissioner Susan Tilgner.

Tilgner said clusters are expected, and these aren’t particularly alarming. But she said she’s been talking to school officials and wants parents to be aware that whooping cough is a concern.

The disease is preventable by vaccine, but immunity wanes as children get older.

A series of vaccinations is recommended before a child starts school. State law calls for a booster for seventh-graders. Health officials also recommend a booster for adults, especially those who are around infants, and for women during pregnancy.

The bacterial illness is easily spread through coughing and sneezing, and it is riskiest for infants. More than half of those younger than 1 year old who are infected end up in a hospital. In rare cases, babies die.

Infants might not show the classic symptom — violent and repetitive coughing followed by a “whooping” sound.