Flu Surge Raises Concerns for Children as Cases Climb Across Northeast Ohio
A sharp rise in flu cases across Northeast Ohio is putting a spotlight on one group in particular: children.
Since Jan. 1, the Ohio Department of Health reports 2,345 flu-related hospitalizations across Cuyahoga, Ashtabula, Geauga, Lake and Lorain counties. While seasonal spikes are expected after the holidays, doctors say this year’s surge is stronger than last year’s and is now being driven in part by influenza B, which appears to be spreading quickly among children.
At Akron Children’s Hospital, 482 children tested positive for influenza B during the week of Feb. 8–14. Out of 1,562 patients tested, that represents a positivity rate of more than 30 percent. Just weeks earlier, that rate was 13.5 percent. The steady climb signals that the virus is gaining momentum among young patients.
Doctors are particularly concerned because children are not only vulnerable to complications, but they are also efficient spreaders of the virus. When children become infected, it increases the risk to infants, elderly relatives, and others with weakened immune systems. Nationwide, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports 66 pediatric flu deaths so far this year, including six in the past week alone.
From a child protection perspective, the message is clear: prevention matters. Keeping sick children home from school, practicing regular handwashing, and staying up to date on flu vaccinations are practical steps that protect not only individual children but entire communities.
Health officials stress that it is not too late to get vaccinated. As flu B activity continues to trend upward, ensuring children are protected remains a critical line of defense in the weeks ahead.
