State Reports Slight Drop In Ohio Flu Hospitalizations

Ohio health officials say the number of flu-related hospitalizations fell slightly last week as an unusually bad season continues to taper off. Numbers released Friday by the Ohio Department of Health showed 212 flu-related hospitalizations from Feb. 1 to Feb. 7, almost unchanged from 213 a week earlier. Ohio Department of Health spokeswoman Melanie Amato says flu cases continue to decline since the peak in late December and early January. She says the worst part of this flu season could be nearing its end. "Usually once it's run its course, it usually dies off unless a different strain starts to pop up that we haven't seen already this season. That doesn't look to be the case this year, so our fingers are crossed that we're out of the woods." The new numbers bring the season's total hospitalizations to 7,612. The state doesn't report adult flu deaths but has recorded the deaths of five children. Individual county health departments have reported several adult deaths, including more than 30 in Cuyahoga (ky-uh-HOH'-guh) County. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says this season's vaccine may not protect as well against the dominant flu strain. Health officials say getting the vaccine is still important, especially for the chronically ill, the elderly and pregnant women.