DAYTON — Public health officials have predicted the H1N1 flu would be on the upswing as school resumes, the weather cools, and humidity levels drop.
And there’s some evidence to suggest that’s the case locally, even as various employers, hospitals and businesses break out the hand-sanitizing gel.
At the Children’s Medical Center of Dayton, for example, the percentage of positive tests for H1N1 flu has ranged from 9 percent to 23 percent during the first 20 days of September, said Dr. Sherman Alter, director of the hospital’s division of infectious diseases.
A general rule of thumb is that when more than 10 percent of possible cases test positive, the virus’ circulation among the public is growing.
So far, nearly 50 children seen at Dayton Children’s have tested positive for H1N1, though fewer than 10 have been hospitalized, Alter said. No confirmed cases have been seen at Miami Valley Hospital, while only a handful have been seen at Kettering and Sycamore medical centers.
Statewide, there have been 71 patients hospitalized for H1N1 flu and three deaths so far, according to the Ohio Department of Health. Overall, however, the flu has mostly been mild so far.
Here’s a primer for parents, caregivers and those who may be more susceptible to the H1N1 flu virus:
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