TOLEDO, Ohio — Northwest Ohio has seen an unseasonably warm winter over the course of the past several weeks.
The Toledo-Lucas County Health Department has also reported a rise in flu-related hospitalizations within the community.
The state of Ohio is currently classified as "very high" for influenza activity. The week of Feb. 4 through Feb. 10, Ohio reported an increase in outpatient visits by 31% and an increase in emergency room visits increased by nine percent compared to the week prior.
Since the beginning of the current flu season, Lucas County has seen 146 influenza associations, which is greater than the 2022-23 influenza season, which previously peaked in December.
Interim Health Commissioner Shannon Jones said that community members should take precautions against the flu, which includes being vaccinated.
"Everyone older than six months of age should be vaccinated against the flu every year," said Jones. "If you have not yet been vaccinated this year, it's not too late."
Community members can contact the health department to schedule a flu shot appointment.
The Lucas County Health Department also recommends that residents take the following steps to protect themselves from the flu:
- Avoiding contact with sick people
- While sick, limiting contact with others
- If sick with a flu-like illness, stay home for 24 hours after your fever is gone. Your fever should be gone for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medicine.
- cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you sneeze
- Wash your hands often with soap and water
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth
- Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that may be contaminated with germs like the flu
