CLEVELAND, Ohio — A 19-month-old Cleveland woman is town’s first confirmed influenza-associated pediatric dying for the present flu season, metropolis well being officers mentioned Friday.

The kid was hospitalized on the time of her dying, officers mentioned.

That is Cuyahoga County’s second pediatric flu-associated dying of the season. A 13-year-old boy died in November.

Whereas the flu season began early and took off quickly, there was a latest drop in flu-related hospitalizations in Ohio and nationally, Ohio Division of Well being Director Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff mentioned just lately. Nonetheless, the flu season is predicted to have peaks and valleys for the subsequent few weeks.

In Ohio by means of Dec. 24, just one pediatric influenza-associated dying has been reported throughout the 2022-2023 influenza season. The state solely tracks pediatric flu-related deaths.

In the course of the unusually gentle flu season of 2020-2021, just one pediatric flu dying was recorded nationally, in line with the U.S. Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention. However there have been 195 throughout the 2019-2020 season, and 144 within the 2018-2019 season.

All through Cuyahoga County, flu exercise is excessive, in line with well being statistics.

As of Dec. 17, the county had recorded two flu-related deaths this season, which incorporates the November pediatric dying. And 756 folks had been hospitalized for influenza-related sickness.

Summit County has recorded three flu-related deaths by means of Dec. 10. In Medina County, one flu-related dying was recorded by means of Tuesday.

The variety of flu-related deaths in different northern Ohio counties weren’t instantly accessible.

Get the flu vaccine

The flu season usually stretches into February and March, so it’s not too late to get a flu shot. The influenza vaccine is advisable for folks 6 months and older, in line with the U.S. Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention.

This 12 months’s flu vaccine is an effective match in opposition to the flu variants in circulation, and it gives safety in opposition to critical sickness and hospitalization from the flu.

Hand washing and sporting masks indoors can assist sluggish the unfold of the influenza virus.

Listed here are methods to discover a flu shot:

Enter your zip code on this vaccine finder web page at vaccines.gov.

Contact the Cuyahoga County Board of Well being to make at appointment at 216.201.2041, or e-mail ccbhnurse@ccbh.web.

The Cleveland Division of Public Well being distributes flu, mpox (monkeypox) and COVID-19 vaccines at two well being facilities:

• J. Glen Smith Well being Heart, 11100 St. Clair Ave. Vaccines can be found for ages 12 and up on Wednesdays and Thursdays, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Youngsters 6 months to 11 years outdated can get vaccinated on Thursdays solely.
• McCafferty Well being Heart, 4242 Lorain Ave. Vaccines can be found for ages 12 and up on Mondays and Wednesdays, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Youngsters 6 months to 11 years outdated can get vaccinated on Mondays solely.

Vaccines are offered for gratis to the affected person. COVID-19 and flu vaccines could be administered on the identical time. Stroll-ins are welcome. Non-compulsory pre-registration accessible for COVID-19 vaccination at 216-664-2222 or gettheshot.coronavirus.ohio.gov. These beneath 18 have to be accompanied by a mother or father or authorized guardian.

Flu, COVID-19 and RSV concern well being officers

The three principal viruses in circulation this winter — influenza, COVID-19 and RSV — are putting Ohio hospitals beneath important pressure, the state’s prime well being official mentioned just lately.

And it’s attainable that hospitals might even see much more sufferers after the vacations, as germs unfold and sicken folks at gatherings, Vanderhoff mentioned in a latest media briefing.

Influenza, COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus, additionally referred to as RSV, could cause critical sickness, particularly for these with well being points or who haven’t been vaccinated, he mentioned. Vaccines in opposition to flu and COVID-19 are conserving vaccinated folks from being hospitalized.

Julie Washington covers healthcare for cleveland.com. Learn earlier tales at this hyperlink. Additionally:

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