Ohio Flu Cases Double, Overwhelming Hospitals in Winter Surge

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Flu hospitalizations in Ohio surged dramatically over the holiday season, jumping from 745 cases during Christmas week to 1,465 during the week of Dec. 27, 2025, according to the Ohio Department of Health. That's more than double the rate from the same period last year and well above seasonal averages, with the CDC classifying the state at 'very high' flu activity since mid-December. Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff, director of the Ohio Department of Health, reported 1,911 flu patients hospitalized statewide for the week ending Jan. 3, 2026 — up even from last year — as emergency rooms in the Tri-State area, including Cincinnati, face overwhelming demand.

Influenza A, particularly new H3N2 variants, drives the spike, leading to more severe illnesses among children and the elderly, health experts say. RSV cases have also doubled since mid-December, though below last year's peaks, while COVID-19 adds to the burden in places like Dayton, where an 11-county region saw over 300% increase in Flu A diagnoses. Tiffany Mattingly, vice president of The Health Collaborative, noted severe cases often require admission, prompting advice to use urgent care or primary providers to cut ER wait times and costs in overwhelmed facilities.

By late April 2026, Northeast Ohio trends shifted at Cleveland Clinic labs, with major viruses downtrending: influenza A and B, plus SARS-CoV-2 each under 1% positivity, and RSV at 2.6%. Yet human metapneumovirus hit 6.4% and rhinovirus/enterovirus 23%, signaling ongoing respiratory threats. The Ohio Department of Health's Respiratory Dashboard continues tracking COVID-19, flu, and RSV hospitalizations and outbreaks statewide to monitor capacity. Officials like Dr. Hackenbracht in Dayton stress handwashing and staying home with fevers to curb spread in schools and communities.