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Board of Health report: respiratory virus hospitalizations rising among older residents; dog bites up 40%
Summary
Councilman Barry Javec reported an uptick in hospital admissions tied to COVID‑19, influenza and RSV—mostly among residents 65 and older—and said the city has received 31 dog‑bite reports in 2025, a 40% increase from 2024. He reminded residents of licensing requirements and free rabies clinics.
Councilman Barry Javec, speaking as chair of the fire committee and relaying Board of Health information, told the council that emergency‑department visits for COVID‑19 and influenza are low, but hospital admissions associated with these respiratory viruses have increased, with a majority of hospitalizations in people aged 65 and older.
Javec said respiratory outbreaks recently reported in long‑term care facilities have been primarily due to COVID‑19, while school outbreaks have been primarily influenza. He reported a substantial increase in dog‑bite incidents: 31 reports in 2025, up from 22 in 2024 and 21 in 2023, representing a roughly 40% increase from 2024 to 2025.
He noted that most biting dogs were running at large and many were unlicensed and lacked proof of current rabies vaccination. Javec reminded residents that municipal ordinances prohibit dogs from running at large and that owners may receive summonses to municipal court if their animals are off leash or unlicensed. He also reminded residents that the Board of Health provides three free rabies vaccination clinics each May at city fire stations and that the Linden dog‑licensing year runs June 1 through May 31.
What happens next: The Board of Health guidance and licensing reminders were placed on the public record; enforcement and public‑education measures (licensing and clinics) were highlighted as means to reduce risk.
