Flu concerns grow in the Miami Valley

GREENE COUNTY, Ohio (WDTN) - The first line of defense in a microscopic struggle...hand washing.

"Everybody's kind of worried about it so everybody around here is making sure they're washing their hands," says Wright State student Sam Smith.

The concerns about the flu took on a whole new seriousness this week with news of the death of 22-year-old Wright State student Amelia Perry.

Weakened by flu, health officials say her body couldn't fight off another infection.

"The influenza doesn't typically kill folks, it's usually a secondary infection that will invade their body and end up killing them," says Registered Nurse Amy Schmitt with the Greene County Combined Health District.

Worries are now spreading as fast as the flu itself.

Clark County is temporarily out of adult flu vaccine.

The Ohio Department of Health says hospitalizations for the flu are up from 86 this time last year to 1,922.

Emergency Rooms like Miami Valley's are near capacity, sometimes with patients who don't need to be there.

"The overwhelming majority are certainly not going to get sick enough to come to the hospital or the emergency room," says Dr. Dennis Mann with Miami Valley Hospital.

So 2 NEWS wanted to know at what point should you end up in the hospital?

"The overwhelming symptom that would dictate a trip to the Emergency Room would be difficulty breathing or shortness of breath," Dr. Mann says.

But health officials say it's not too late to try to avoid the flu altogether.

Greene County is offering extra hours at its flu shot clinics and Wright State is reminding students they can get vaccinated on campus.

"You can still get the flu shot," Mann says. "It takes about two weeks to be effective."

Until then, the battle continues in sinks across the area.