More Franklin County Residents Being Hospitalized From The Flu

Franklin County has seen a significant increase of people in the hospital with flu. "Normally on a given week this time of the year we would see five or six cases per week," says Columbus Public Health spokesman Jose Rodriguez. "Last week, for the first time we saw that significant bump or increase in which we have 23 cases. Rodriguez says there's been one influenza death in Franklin County this year. Rodriguez says one possible explanation is the mutation of H3N2, a strong flu strain. "The virus has changed from the time that the vaccine was developed to today." Statewide, hospitalizations are significantly higher with 202 through November compared with 89 last year.