Ohio flu cases still highest in US. Here are the counties that have it the worst this week
The CDC had good news and bad news for Ohio this week.
The good news was the state had fewer reported cases of flu activity — the number of outpatient visits, positive lab tests and deaths due to flu — this week.
And the bad news, Ohio is still has some of the highest flu activity in the country.
The CDC measures the spread of flu by looking at weekly data of flu activity and ranking regions by their levels of activity.
On a scale of one to 13 with 13 being the very highest, Ohio is currently ranked a level 11 in flu activity for the week ending March 10, dropping from 12 in recent weeks. Nebraska and Washington, D.C. are the only places with very high (level 11) activity. No state in the country reported more flu-related hospitalizations than Ohio, Nebraska and DC.
Lucas County had the largest number of new reported cases, nearly doubling from 181 hospitalizations to 352 hospitalizations in two weeks.
Northeast and east central (including Mahoning) Ohio have had the highest number of reported flu-related hospitalizations in the 2023-2024 flu season (from October to March).
The number of flu-related hospitalizations reported the week ending March 10 was only 85 in the east central region (Mahoning, Ashland, Carroll, Columbiana, Holmes, Medina, Portage, Richland, Stark Summit, Trumbull, Tuscarawas and Wayne counties). Reported cases reached 120 the previous week.
The region’s totals sit at 1,304 reported cases.
The northeast region, Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake and Lorain counties, reported 297 cases in the past two weeks, bringing their total for the season to 1,468, the highest in the state.
As of March 9, Ohio has had 7,601 cases of flu-related hospitalizations this season.
Ohio counties with the highest number of reported influenza-associated hospitalizations
- Cuyahoga: 922
- Franklin: 656
- Montgomery: 623
- Hamilton: 609
- Lucas: 352, up 171 cases in two weeks
- Summit: 314
- Stark: 287
- Butler: 254
- Lorain: 237
- Lake: 171
- Clermont: 152
- Mahoning: 146 (33 new hospitalizations since Feb. 23)
- Warren: 124
- Medina: 121
- Miami: 99
- Allen: 99
- Clark: 97
- Greene: 94
- Wayne: 91
- Muskingum: 86
- Wood: 85
- Jefferson: 82
- Columbiana: 75
- Ashtabula: 70
- Geauga: 68
Vaccination’s impact
In Ohio, 48.8% of adults and 55.7% of children under 18 were vaccinated for the 2022-2023 season. Ohio’s reported vaccinations coverage was lower than the state average at 43.7%.
This year, vaccinations are up to 46.8%, according to the CDC. Despite an increase in Ohio residents getting flu shots this year, reported flu cases are on the rise in the state.
Flu Symptoms
Influenza (flu) can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death. Flu symptoms usually come on suddenly. People who have flu often feel some or all of these symptoms:
- fever or feeling feverish/chills
- cough
- sore throat
- runny or stuffy nose
- muscle or body aches
- headaches
- fatigue (tiredness)
- some people may have vomiting and diarrhea, though this is more common in children than adults.
Not everyone with flu will have a fever, but for those who do, the high temperatures can last for three to four days.
More information is available at Flu and COVID-19 symptoms.
The CDC reported this season’s flu shot reduced the risk of flu-related hospitalizations by 52%. For those who get sick despite getting a vaccine, the symptoms are far less severe.
The CDC recommends everyone ages six months and older should get annual flu vaccinations.
People at higher risk of serious flu complications include young children, pregnant people, those who suffer from certain chronic health conditions like asthma, diabetes or heart and lung disease, and people 65 years and older.
Flu vaccinations are available by injection, nasal spray or in high doses (for seniors). The state provides free vaccinations for children under 18 years of age and for underinsured adults. To find flu vaccine locations near you, visit vaccines.gov.
This story was originally published March 18, 2024 at 6:00 AM.
