Flu cases drop, but still a threat

DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) - There are signs that flu cases in the Miami Valley are dropping off.  There were about 90 fewer cases reported in Montgomery County and health officials say that's a good sign.

But, the virus is still alive and well and you need to protect yourself against it.

Dayton Children's Medical Center was forced to restrict visitation in its NICU to parents only, no children under 12.

"Parents understand.  They might not be happy with it, and of course their little siblings have a real hard time with it and as soon as it's over we open it back up," said Terrie Koss, Dayton Children's Infection Preventionist.

Koss says the restrictions are in place to protect the most vulnerable during a time when respiratory viruses are high.  "It came two months early, both the flu and RSV.  We would like to think it's peaking and going to go down, but nobody is willing to say that."

The president of the Dayton Area Hospital Association says there are signs that may be the case.

"There was 209 in the last week of 2012.  There was 121 last week, so it's going down a little bit," said Bryan Bucklew, DAHA.

Bucklew says school absences are also down, as are the sale of thermometers.  "They follow the normal course and they've been a little bit higher than last year, but they follow the normal spikes."

Bucklew warns the small dip doesn't mean flu season is over or even that the worst is behind us.  "It's still widespread, even though it's a little bit less than it was last week.  It's still higher than it was at any point last year.  So, just be smart and wash your hands a lot and if you have kids, wash your hands even more," said Bucklew.

Dayton Children's is the only area hospital with restrictions in place.