ASHLAND COUNTY, Ohio — An 8-month boy from Ashland County is being reported as the first pediatric flu-related death recorded during the 2021-22 season.
The Ashland County Health Department investigated the child’s death.
“There have been 972 flu-associated hospitalizations reported in Ohio so far this flu season compared with 108 reported during the same time period within the 2020-21 influenza season, which saw an unusually low amount of influenza compared to more typical flu seasons,” according to a press release Friday from the Ohio Department of Health.
Ohio health officials say at this point in the flu season two years ago, there were 10,540 hospitalizations.
“COVID-19 mitigation measures such as wearing face masks, staying home, hand washing, school closures, reduced travel, increased ventilation of indoor spaces and physical distancing, likely contributed to the decline in 2020-21 flu incidence and hospitalizations.”
No additional details about the 8-year-old boy were immediately available.
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Editor's note: Video in the player above was originally published in an unrelated health story on March 31, 2022.