FLU OUTBREAK IN COLUMBUS?

Health Commissioner Urges Residents to Get Protected from Flu

Local Monitoring Shows Rapid and Severe Flu Season- Don’t Wait to get a Shot!

Influenza arrived early this season and central Ohio is already experiencing significant flu activity based on local flu indicators, mirroring those released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Locally, hospitalizations are significantly high. As of January 5, there were 293 cases of hospitalizations, compared to nine cases in 2011 and 48 cases in 2010 during that same time frame. Current levels of influenza like illnesses (ILI) also are nearing what have been peak levels of ILI during moderately severe seasons in the past.

As a result, Health Commissioner Dr. Teresa Long strongly urges central Ohio residents to take action, get protected with a flu vaccine and practice common sense to minimize the spread of illness in our community. “I urge all residents to take advantage of the vaccine available in our community and get protected as soon as possible,” says Dr. Long. “There is no way to predict how severe the season will get, but a flu vaccine – while not 100 percent effective – is still your best protection against this serious and potentially complicated illness.”