Mary Alice Reporting –
A Wednesday press conference highlighted numbers that showed improvements in respiratory virus case numbers.
Levels of influenza, RSV, and COVID 19 are declining which is typical, says Ohio Department of Health Director Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff, as spring turns into summer.
In early March, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Ohio’s flu activity was very high but those numbers have rapidly declined.
Vanderhoff adds a caution when it comes to measles outbreaks seen in the United States, with five cases reported in Ohio with one hospitalization.
“So far, this year, the CDC has reported 125 cases of measles in seventeen states. That’s more than double what was reported nationally in 2023. What these measles numbers highlight is the continued need for all of us to stay up-to-date on all of our vaccinations.”
Ohio’s MMR vaccination rate among incoming kindergarten students was 89% in the 2022-23 school year.
Measles, a viral disease, can cause skin spots and a fever. It’s listed as highly contagious and is easily spread to others through droplets. The health department reminds all to continue washing or disinfecting hands and surfaces frequently.
Copyright WTUZ Radio Inc., 2024