DAYTON — The colder months have become synonymous with an uptick in respiratory illnesses like the flu and RSV and this winter is no different. Now, local and state health officials are seeing very high levels in the last few weeks and that’s just the cases that are being looked at by physicians.
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Dan Suffoletto, Public Information Officer for Public Health Dayton-Montgomery County, said not every case of the flu is diagnosed.
“So there’s many more cases of the flu that just go generally unreported,” Suffoletto said. “Those people who are going to the hospital, and then ultimately hospitalized are the people who are getting the sickest.”
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Statewide, the first week of January resulted in more than 500 people staying in hospitals for treatment for the flu. That was more than a 100 percent increase from the week before and that number doesn’t even include RSV cases.
Suffoletto recommended vaccination. He also said the problem can often get worse quickly if people don’t stay home when sick.
“You have a — maybe a single mom or someone who has the flu and does not have the opportunity to have paid time off, they may want to go to work when they’re sick. And not only is that bad for them and inhibits them from getting well faster, it also can further spread the flu,” he explained.
Along with the seasonal respiratory illnesses, local and state health officials are keeping a very close eye on cases of bird flu and norovirus, which are highly contagious and can hang around on surfaces for up to two weeks if not properly cleaned.
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