The Ohio Department of Health reported the state’s first flu-associated pediatric death of the 2023-24 flu season Friday.The patient was a 9-year-old girl from Clermont County, health officials reported. Clermont County Public Health is investigating the death.Health officials said flu activity usually peaks between December and February, and in Ohio, flu activity has been increasing since early December, and current activity is high. Since the start of the season, over 900 influenza-associated hospitalizations have been reported in Ohio, which is below the five-year average for this time in the season, health officials stated. Ohio generally reports between one and six influenza-associated pediatric deaths each year.“If you haven’t gotten a flu vaccine, now is a good time,” ODH Director Bruce Vanderhoff, M.D., MBA, said in a statement. “We are in the heart of flu season, and a vaccine may help prevent you or your loved ones from contracting a serious case of the disease.”Health officials advise Ohioans to stay up to date on vaccines and avoid spreading illness by washing hands frequently or using 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.More information about flu and flu activity in Ohio is available at www.flu.ohio.gov.
The Ohio Department of Health reported the state’s first flu-associated pediatric death of the 2023-24 flu season Friday.
The patient was a 9-year-old girl from Clermont County, health officials reported. Clermont County Public Health is investigating the death.
Health officials said flu activity usually peaks between December and February, and in Ohio, flu activity has been increasing since early December, and current activity is high.
Since the start of the season, over 900 influenza-associated hospitalizations have been reported in Ohio, which is below the five-year average for this time in the season, health officials stated. Ohio generally reports between one and six influenza-associated pediatric deaths each year.
“If you haven’t gotten a flu vaccine, now is a good time,” ODH Director Bruce Vanderhoff, M.D., MBA, said in a statement. “We are in the heart of flu season, and a vaccine may help prevent you or your loved ones from contracting a serious case of the disease.”
Health officials advise Ohioans to stay up to date on vaccines and avoid spreading illness by washing hands frequently or using 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.
More information about flu and flu activity in Ohio is available at www.flu.ohio.gov.