The flu continues to hit Northeast Ohio hard this season, as the Cuyahoga County Board of Health reports that three people have died from flu-related complications this week. All three people were female, ranging from 78 to 101 years old.

This brings the flu-related death total for the county to five. Activity level for the flu season, which traditionally ends in May, is now set at “very high,” moving up from “high.”

Summit County has also reported five flu-related deaths this season.

To lower your chances of contracting the flu — nasty symptoms include coughing, fever, sore throat and body aches, which can lead to complications —
officials (and most likely your mother) advise getting the flu vaccine.

The flu vaccine is still available at many drugstores and doctor’s offices across the region. There’s no time like the present to go out and get the shot.

So far, the Ohio Department of Health says the H3N2 virus is the most common flu strain this season. Children and adults older than 60 are at higher risk of contracting the virus.

This article appears in Jan 17-23, 2018.