LIMA, Ohio (WLIO) - Allen County Public Health, in conjunction with the Ohio Department of Health, has confirmed the state's first pediatric flu-related death of the season in Allen County.
Officials report that an Allen County teenager under the age of 18 died from complications due to the flu. This marks Ohio's first pediatric flu-related death of the 2024-25 flu season. According to Allen County Public Health, this season has been severe for the county, with even healthy individuals falling ill.
“First and foremost, we would like to extend our sincere sympathy to the family,” says Deb Roberts, Director of Nursing, Allen County Public Health. “It has been a very severe flu season, one of the worst that we've seen in quite a number of years. Influenza Type A is what we're seeing right now, and that does cause more of a severe disease as far as the flu. And we have to remember that... I think a lot of the times, we think of the flu causing problems with the elderly. No longer is that the narrative; it is causing issues with all age groups, and you don't even have to have a chronic medical condition or an underlying condition that could make you more at risk. We're seeing that this flu is really making healthy children sick.”
Roberts also noted that flu hospitalizations in Allen County have continued to rise through February, significantly exceeding numbers reported in January.
“Last month in January, we had approximately 60 individuals that were hospitalized for the flu. Already this month of February, we've doubled that number. So in this month alone, we have seen more individuals hospitalized for the flu than we did the entire year of 2024, so it is definitely causing people to be sick and having to be hospitalized,” Roberts adds.
Symptoms of the flu include fever, cough, congestion and headache. If those symptoms develop, Roberts advises contacting a family provider or visiting urgent care.
