The Union County Health Department recently updated the community regarding the spread of multiple illnesses that had many residents on alert through the fall and early winter.
Public health officials noted that number of influenza and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) cases have declined recently, but they are continuing to monitor other illnesses like COVID-19 and measles.
According to UCHD, flu activity has slowed after a “sharp peak in flu-related hospitalizations across Ohio in December.”
“Based on flu surveillance from other regions, we are anticipating the flu season to continue to have smaller peaks and valleys through the rest of the winter,” UCHD officials wrote in an update.
UCHD officials also encouraged community members to consider getting the flu vaccine in anticipation of “several smaller waves of flu activity.”
Local health department officials said there were 16 flu-related hospitalizations in Union County this flu season, three of which were pediatric patients.
Likewise, UCHD officials noted that the number of RSV cases being treated in Ohio hospitals has “declined dramatically over the past several weeks.”
While there has been a “substantial decrease in hospitalizations and deaths” resulting from COVID-19 since the height of waves in 2020 and 2021, UCHD officials said they expect new waves of omicron variants of the virus to arise.
Officials said the disease is currently “impacting older adults the hardest.”
UCHD officials, along with the Ohio Department of Health and Ohio Department of Aging, are encouraging older adults to consider getting the updated bivalent COVID-19 booster to protect against newer variants of the disease.
Data indicates only about 38% of Ohioans ages 65 and older have received the updated bivalent booster, according to a release from UCHD.
Aside from the three respiratory illnesses that brought about fears of a “triple-demic” – influenza, RSV and COVID-19 – health department officials are closely monitoring an outbreak of measles in the area.
As of Jan. 5, UCHD is reporting two confirmed cases of measles among Union County residents.
Officials said one of the cases appears to be linked to the ongoing central Ohio outbreak, but public health employees are still investigating the second case.
Public health officials in Columbus are reporting 82 confirmed cases as part of the current outbreak, 32 of which required hospitalization.
The outbreak is predominantly affecting children ages 5 and younger – specifically those who are unvaccinated or are too young to be vaccinated (the first dose of the measles vaccine is recommended between ages 12-15 months).
UCHD officials are encouraging parents to make sure their children are up-to-date on measles vaccinations, as a second dose is recommended between ages 4-6 years.
The local health department also previously alerted the community of a possible exposure to measles. Those were at Meijer on Coleman’s Crossing Boulevard on Dec. 23 from 9 a.m. to noon or Dec. 26 from 2-5 p.m. should monitor themselves for signs and symptoms of measles. It can take up to 21 days to develop symptoms.
Symptoms include a cough, runny nose, fever, red and watery eyes and tiny white spots that appear on the inside of the mouth.
A rash will generally follow after those symptoms appear. The rash typically starts at the hairline and moves down the body.
If an individual develops symptoms, they should call.