COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Ohio Department of Health held a press conference on Thursday to update where the state stands regarding COVID-19, RSV and flu cases.
Flu cases on the rise
Influenza activity in Ohio has not been relatively high, as the numbers are on track with the five-year average statewide.
However, Ohio Department of Health Director Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff noted that influenza cases have recently increased again, with Ohio being considered “very high” for flu cases, according to the CDC.
“We need to use common-sense precautions, such as if you’re feeling sick, stay home from work or school and stay away from others,” said Dr. Vanderhoff. “If you are not yet vaccinated against the flu, it’s not too late to get the vaccine and protect yourself and protect others.”
According to the Ohio Department of Health, there were 98 flu hospitalizations last week. Cuyahoga County has the most hospitalizations in the state at 648, compared to the second highest in Franklin County (Columbus) at 435.
COVID-19 cases on the decline
During the press conference, Dr. Vanderhoff noted that COVID-19 cases are now declining in Ohio after a spike earlier this year.
In January, 10,000-12,000 cases of COVID-19 were being reported per week. Now, officials are seeing about 7,000 COVID-19 cases per week, with hospitalizations on the decline.
“Periodically, reports of new variants have caused concern, but so far, each of these new variants has not been causing an increase in levels of severe disease. The variants have all been sub-variants of the Omicron lineage, the most recent being JN.1, which accounted for more than three-fourths of COVID-19 infections in Ohio on Jan. 27, which is our most recent variant data. It’s important to note, though, that this disease is still claiming the lives of Ohioans every single week. If you’ve not been vaccinated, particularly if you’re over the age of 65 or immunocompromised, please get the vaccine. It could save your life,” said Dr. Vanderhoff.
RSV cases on the decline
In addition to COVID-19 being on the decline, RSV cases are also diminishing.
“We didn’t see as large a surge in RSV cases this year as we did last year, but we did see a substantial number of cases in December and January. That increase has since receded,” said Dr. Vanderhoff.
Resurgence of measles
Nearly two weeks after the first 2024 measles case in Ohio was reported in Montgomery County, the Ohio Department of Health is warning about the resurgence of the infectious disease.
“We had an outbreak of measles, largely in central Ohio, in an under-vaccinated population in late 2022. Out of 85 cases, sadly, 36 of them were severe enough to require hospitalization. You’ve likely heard about a sizable outbreak of measles in Europe, particularly right now in the United Kingdom, where they have reported a large outbreak. Here in Ohio this year, we’ve seen three cases in Montgomery, Richland and Miami counties. One of the common features we’re seeing in these cases is that the persons infected are not adequately vaccinated,” said Dr. Vanderhoff.
Additionally, individuals who believe they may have been exposed and have yet to be contacted by their local health department are being asked to reach out.
“International travel means an outbreak in one country can reach another country when there are under-vaccinated populations in that country very quickly. The measles vaccine, which is combined with mumps and rubella called the MMR vaccine, is highly effective after receiving the recommended two doses. For those of you who live in a community where we’re seeing cases and where public health advisories have gone out, if you believe you may have been exposed and you’ve not been contacted by your local health department, please reach out to them.”
In order to prevent measles, Dr. Vanderhoff is urging Ohio residents to make sure they are fully vaccinated against the disease.
“The blessing of our vaccines is that they have been proven to be very effective and very safe. What we’re seeing now across the world with these outbreaks of diseases that are very preventable with vaccines is truly a tragedy because what we’ve done has left ourselves vulnerable. Take, for example, the current concern about measles. Measles is a very serious illness. It causes people who get it to become extremely ill and, in many circumstances, end up in the hospital, and in rare circumstances, we even see deaths from measles. Think of what a tragedy that would be in any one of our families were members of our family were to come down with what we know is a vaccine-preventable illness,” said Vanderhoff.
The full press conference can be watched below:
During the press conference, Ohio Department of Health Director Dr. Vanderhoff was also joined by the following:
- Stephanie King, a certified family nurse practitioner and clinical nurse coordinator of the asthma clinic at Cleveland Clinic; also, a member of the American Lung Association’s Cleveland Local Leadership Board.
- Dr. Peter Shields, Emeritus professor of medical oncology and cancer prevention at Ohio State’s Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute.
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