MONTGOMERY COUNTY — Over the last two weeks, there has been a rise in respiratory illness hospitalizations in Montgomery County.
[DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]
As reported on News Center 7 at 6:00, health officials tell News Center 7 that people need to protect themselves during this time of year.
TRENDING STORIES:
- Teen shoots himself while mishandling gun at Dayton mall; Police asking for help identifying him
- A million taxpayers will soon receive up to $1,400 from the IRS. Who are they and why now?
- Father and son charged with multiple child sex crimes in Ohio
There have been 15 flu hospitalizations in Montgomery County as of Dec. 14, according to Dayton & Montgomery County Public Health.
The Ohio Department of Health reports that the combined number of RSV and flu cases across Ohio is at 70.
A spokesperson with Kettering Health told News Center 7 that they have seen an increase in hospitalizations from the flu, RSV and COVID-19.
“From November to today’s date we have seen an increase of 140 hospitalizations from COVID and an increase of 88 hospitalizations from RSV,” the spokesperson said.
LaToya Burgess, a Dayton resident, said she hope she doesn’t catch anything while visiting family this holiday season.
“I worry about, like, catching something mostly always,” Burgess said.
She said it’s usually people not cleaning up after themselves or staying up to date with their vaccines.
“A lot of nastiness nowadays. It’s not really what we used to see around here like that,” Burgess said.
Dan Suffoletto, a spokesperson with Dayton & Montgomery County Public Health, shared some tips to stay healthy.
“Washing your hands when you’re eating food and when you’re preparing food is very important to help reduce the risk of spreading bacteria,” Suffoletto said. “So staying home when you’re sick is very important.”
[SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
