DAYTON, Ohio (WKEF) — A post-holiday wave of illnesses is sweeping through the Miami Valley, with medical professionals reporting a rise in cases of influenza, norovirus, and COVID-19. Dr. Austin Williams of Kettering Health noted that symptoms such as “fever, chills, body aches, upper respiratory symptoms like congestion, headaches, cough, and sore throat” are highly indicative of the flu.
Brittany Voland, a nurse practitioner at Premier Health, attributed the rapid spread of these illnesses to close family gatherings over the Christmas holiday. She advised those who wish to avoid falling ill to ensure they have received the latest vaccines and to maintain healthy hygiene practices. “Stay home when you can if you are sick, if you can’t stay home, consider wearing a mask. Wash your hands frequently, especially with soap and water,” Voland said, emphasizing that some viruses are less responsive to hand sanitizer.
In response to the surge, hospitals in the Dayton area, including Premier and Kettering, have implemented temporary visitor restrictions. These measures, according to Voland, aim to protect recovering patients whose immune systems may not be fully functional. “Either they are sick and they can’t be managed at home, or their body is trying to heal from some sort of injury or surgery,” she explained…