The Athens City-Council Health Department is unaware of any flu-related hospitalizations so far this season.
Students may be noticing fewer people with coughs, aches and runny noses this flu season, as rates are down substantially from last year, officials said.
So far, the Athens City-County Health Department is not aware of any cases of flu-related hospitalizations or pediatric deaths, Health Commissioner James Gaskell said.
“Influenza rates are down from last year at this time,” Gaskell said in an email. “We are early in the flu season and could still see an increase in number of cases.”
He also said only about 1 percent of flu tests have come back positive.
“The incidence of flu varies annually for a variety of reasons including vaccination rates, match of vaccine for circulating virus and contagiousness of ... the influenza virus,” Gaskell said in an email.
Amanda Swope, a nursing supervisor of Campus Care at Ohio University, said she has noticed fewer students coming in with the flu.
“However, last year our largest testing pool of people with the flu was in January, so it depends on the next two weeks,” Swope said. “Students are just getting back, and they can bring multiple flu bugs and pass those around.”
She added that she expects to see more cases in the upcoming weeks.
The flu season can start as early as October and run as late as May, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In addition, Athens County had no reported hospitalizations from the flu during the third quarter of 2015, according to data from the Ohio Department of Health. Fourth quarter data has yet to be release
In comparison, last year had the highest flu rate in six years, according to a previous Post report.
Gaskell said the best way to avoid getting the flu is to get the vaccine.
“The influenza vaccine is their best means of avoiding the flu, and we still have doses available at the health department,” Gaskell said in an email.
He said flu vaccines can be administered as late as April.
Campus Care also offers vaccines for $56, billed to insurance, on the second floor of Hudson Health Center, Swope said.
Rachael Roman, a junior studying psychology, said she’s never gotten the flu vaccine on campus but sees it as a good option for students.
“You don’t want to get the flu, so if (flu shots are) more available, more people are likely to get it,” she said.
Roman said she’s never had the flu on campus and also hasn’t noticed anyone with it so far this flu season.
“I wash my hands a lot, and I just be careful mostly,” she said.
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