MOUNT VERNON — The 2023-24 peak influenza season is arriving late this time around, but it’s coming.
“We are starting to see a steady increase in positive cases from providers, hospitalizations, and wastewater monitoring,” Health Commissioner Zach Green said. “Looking at all those data points, we are projecting the peak to start the end of January or first part of February.”
Last season, influenza, commonly referred to as the flu, peaked in the first part of December.
Wastewater monitoring became prevalent in 2020 with the onset of COVID-19. Sampling provides health officials advance notice of SARS-CoV-2, influenza, and other pathogens.
Locally, Gambier, the City of Mount Vernon, and the county sample wastewater for COVID and influenza.
Centerburg and Fredericktown are not monitoring wastewater because the state does not have the capacity to process additional samples.
“If they had the capacity, we’d already be doing it,” Green said.
“With wastewater monitoring, if we can get a couple of years worth of trends, it will be more helpful,” he added.
In addition to influenza, local physicians are reporting cases of RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) and norovirus.
Norovirus is often called the “stomach flu” or “stomach bug.” However, it is not related to the flu, which is caused by the influenza virus.
All three illnesses are also trending upward statewide.
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