Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Officials say it's active locally, but no reports of widespread cases have been made in Cuyahoga County.
Although the flu is on everyone’s minds this season, the winter vomiting bug, or the norovirus, is making its rounds — though it's not known how many cases have been contracted locally. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that the norovirus causes about 70,000 hospitalizations and 800 deaths each year, mostly in young children and the elderly. Follow us on Twitter | Like us on Facebook Some of the virus' common symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and stomach pains. The CDC points out that the norovirus is often referred to as the stomach flu, but it is unrelated to influenza. In fact, the flu rarely involves intestinal symptoms. "Really everything from the chest down is something like the norovirus," …
Sunday, January 27, 2013
The number of cases seems to be decreasing in Cuyahoga County.
Don’t breathe a sigh of relief just yet—it looks like the flu is easing up in Cuyahoga County, but it’s still worse than last year at this time. Cuyahoga County provides weekly influenza reports on its website. According to the most recent report, which ended Jan. 12, flu-related hospitalizations in the area were down from the past few weeks—65 hospitalizations compared to about 140 each the previous two weeks. And emergency room and doctor visits for flu-like symptoms were also down. But there were about 110 more emergency department visits for flu-like symptoms and about 55 more over-the-counter medications purchased per drug store than the same time period last year. If you’re still planning to get a flu shot—or you just want some …
Sunday, January 20, 2013
There have been more than 2,500 flu-related hospitalizations across the state so far this season.
This has already been an intense season for the flu in Ohio and across the country. Cuyahoga County provides weekly influenza reports on its website. As of Jan. 18, the most recent report—which ended on Jan. 5—showed a lot of flu activity in the area. This report was posted last week, so click here for more details. The Ohio Department of Health’s website has some more recent information, and some of the figures are staggering. There have already been more than 2,500 flu-related hospitalizations across the state as of Jan. 12. Compare that to 175 last year, and 86 the year before for the same time period. The department notes that there has been a “dramatic and early increase” this season, and includes a chart that shows just that. If …
Saturday, January 12, 2013
The illness has been reaching high levels across the state and country.
Ohio is in the midst of an “unusually” active influenza season, the Ohio Department of Health reports. The Cuyahoga County Board of Health tracks influenza activity by the week. According to the most recent report, which ended on Jan. 5, flu activity in the county is still “widespread,” but the figures look a bit better than last week. Flu-related hospitalizations were down a bit after a sharp increase last week. This week, there were 59 flu-related hospitalizations. Last week, there were 134, and the week before, there were 73. About 4 percent of all emergency department visits were for fever or flu symptoms, down from 4.9 percent the week before. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, flu activity continues to …
Thursday, January 10, 2013
"Widespread" flu activity in Cuyahoga County has been reported this flu season
The Cleveland Heights-University Heights City School District posted information about the flu on its website Wednesday. The article, written by the district's registered nurse Chris Bell, lists ways to protect yourself from the virus and how to know if you have it. symptoms and treatment for the virus. Influenza has been widespread in Cuyahoga County this flu season. To prevent the flu, wash your hands, eat healthily, drink plenty of water and get lots of rest, the article urges. For more tips, click here.
Monday, December 17, 2012
Click here to find flu data and shot locations
Ralph Solonitz
8:14 am on Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Watching the local news will cause this reaction also... more ›