Each flu season, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that about 8% of the US population gets sick with the flu. The only way to officially diagnose a patient is by getting a flu test, however, this is difficult since influenza symptoms often mimic other respiratory illnesses such as a cold or COVID-19. Since the flu is a respiratory illness, it is spread through droplets when someone with the flu coughs, sneezes, or talks. Symptoms of the flu can range from mild to severe cough, fever, sore throat, or nasal congestion. Although influenza is fairly common, it should still be taken seriously as those with weakened immune systems, such as children or people 65 years or older, are at risk for influenza-related complications, like inflammation of the heart or sepsis.

Cases of reportable disease in the state of Ohio are reported by providers and laboratories to local health departments using a system called Ohio Disease Report System (ODRS). This allows for local health departments (LHDs) to accurately monitor and investigate any case of disease requiring follow-up, isolation/exclusion, or guidance to prevent further transmission. This also allows LHDs to collect accurate data on how many cases of certain disease they have in their county to create graphs like the one you see! Using data from previous years, public health professionals can create threshold data to get a detailed prediction of what is “normal” for their county during a specific period.

Influenza cases are only reported to local health departments (LDHs) when the individual is hospitalized or there is a pediatric death. When we receive a case of hospitalized influenza, Licking County Health Department (LCHD) follows up with the hospital to get information on the patient to ensure their hospitalization was related to the flu and not an unrelated condition. LCHD conducts its own influenza project collecting data from local providers each week and all year long. This provides a snapshot of county flu activity and can assist with detecting unusual incidents outside of the normal flu season.

Licking County Health Department (LCHD) engages with hospitals whenever case information is requested. LCHD also works with local providers to collect weekly information regarding the influenza cases that came into their offices. Because of them, we can get weekly data on influenza to keep track of what is happening in the county. To look at our influenza data for this flu season, you may follow this link: Licking County Flu Report.