COLUMBUS – It looks like flu season is in full swing in Ohio with an 80 percent jump in the number of hospitalizations during the first week of January, according to an update released Wednesday by the Ohio Department of Health.
The agency says there were 287 new confirmed flu-associated hospitalizations compared to 157 the week before, prompting officials to remind Ohioans to get vaccinated.
“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 you to recover from the flu.” Sietske de Fijter, chief of the Bureau of Infectious Diseases and state epidemiologist.
Flu vaccination is available at most healthcare providers’ offices, local health departments and retail pharmacies.
2016- 2017 trivalent influenza vaccine contains:
A/California/7/2009 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus
A/Hong Kong/480/2014 (H3N2)-like virus
B/Brisbane/60/2008-like virus), a B/Victoria lineage virus.
Quadrivalent vaccine also protects against additional B virus
Flu activity is on the rise across the country and this trend is expected to continue for at least several more weeks, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
There have been 654 total flu-associated hospitalizations in Ohio since flu season began last October (see graph). State health officials say flu season in Ohio generally lasts from October to May, with flu-associated hospitalizations typically peaking between December and February.
There were 3,691 total flu-associated hospitalizations during last year’s flu season.
While vaccination provides the greatest protection against the flu, de Fijter says other effective ways to avoid getting or spreading it include:
washing hands frequently or using alcohol-based hand sanitizer
covering coughs and sneezes with tissues
coughing or sneezing into elbows
avoiding touching eyes, nose and mouth
stay home when sick and until fever-free for 24 hours (without medication)
Symptoms of influenza can include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue.