» WHAT WE KNOW NOW: Hospitals implement visitor restrictions for flu season
The percentages of urgent care and emergency room visit for people presenting with flu-like symptoms also increased by nearly 28 percent in Montgomery County. Influenza A is the most common subtype in the region this season. All local counties either saw an increase in flu-related hospitalizations or the same number of hospitalization compared to the week before.
| Week Ending | Oct. 7- Nov. 18 | Nov. 25 | Dec. 2 | Dec. 9 | Dec. 16 | Dec. 23 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Champaign | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 6 |
| Clark | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 15 | 28 |
| Darke | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Greene | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 14 | 27 |
| Miami | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 |
| Montgomery | 11 | 7 | 12 | 32 | 41 | 69 | 172 |
| Preble | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 5 |
| Warren | 7 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 19 |
| Total | 22 | 8 | 21 | 42 | 58 | 114 |
Mercy Health- Springfield experienced a dramatic rise in the number of respiratory flu hospitalizations and ER visits over the last two weeks. Between Oct. 1 and Dec. 17, there were six confirmed flu-associated hospitalizations in Clark County. Since Dec. 17, there have been 31 confirmed flu-associated hospitalizations.
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If you are sick, some effective ways to help prevent the spreading of flu include:
- Stay home and avoid contact with people for at least 24 hours after your fever subsides without the use of fever-reducing medicine.
- Restrict visitations at the hospital
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing
- Wash your hands often or use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available
- Take flu antiviral drugs if your doctor recommends them
Symptoms of influenza can include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Although most people fully recover from the flu, some experience severe illness like pneumonia and respiratory failure, and the flu can sometimes be fatal. There is still time to get your flu shot. Flu vaccines are offered in many locations, including doctor’s offices, clinics, health departments, pharmacies and college health centers.
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