Flu cases are rising in Clark County, with hospital admissions following suit

The number of emergency department visits and hospitalizations due to respiratory illnesses, including influenza and COVID-19, continues to rise in Clark County.

From Dec. 15-21, Clark County Public Health recorded a rate of 35.25 percent influenza positivity of the 976 people tested — an 8.24 percentage point jump from the previous week. From Dec. 8-14, Clark County recorded 27.01 percent flu positivity of the 748 people tested. During the last week of November, the positivity rate was only 8.11 percent.

Between Dec. 22-28, 7.2 percent of emergency department visits were due to the flu; 0.7 percent were due to COVID-19 and 0.6 percent were due to respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV.

Hospital admissions due to respiratory illnesses are also on the rise, according to data from Clark County Public Health.

During the last week of December, 5.5 percent of hospital admissions were due to the flu; 1.2 percent were due to COVID-19 and 0.5 percent were due to RSV.

Clark County Public Health partners with various laboratories to collect data on flu cases throughout the county. The positivity rate is the percent of influenza tests conducted by reporting laboratories with positive results, according to Public Health.

Influenza positivity at or above 10 percent is considered elevated influenza activity, according to Public Health. The period of high activity is considered over when that number drops below 10 percent for two weeks in a row.

Although Public Health cannot predict whether respiratory illness rates will increase, decrease or stay the same, in previous years, influenza season has stretched into the spring. COVID-19 can spike at different times of the year when new variants emerge.

As the winter continues, Public Health encourages people to take precautions against respiratory illness as youth return to school by getting vaccinated, staying home when sick and considering wearing a mask in crowded areas.