Flu Now 'Widespread' In Maryland, 8 Deaths Reported

MARYLAND — The flu is now considered widespread in 30 states, including Maryland, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In the first week of 2019, three children died of flu-related causes nationwide, the CDC reported.

The latest numbers provided by the CDC are current as of Jan. 5 for the 2018-19 flu season.

So far, eight adults hospitalized due to the flu have died in Maryland this season, according to state health officials. No pediatric flu deaths have been reported in the state.

Flu activity is "high" across Maryland, according to the Maryland Department of Health's latest flu surveillance report. The latest numbers documenting activity through Jan. 5 were released on Friday, Jan. 11, from both state and federal health officials.

For the week ending Jan. 5, there were three outbreaks and 44 flu-related hospitalizations in Maryland, according to the Maryland Department of Health. There were 107 specimens that tested positive for the flu, versus 18 that tested positive the previous week.

The flu can cause serious illness, hospitalization and death. The groups most at risk are older adults, very young children, pregnant women and those with certain chronic medical conditions, according to the CDC.

Maryland saw its first flu case of the season in October. The CDC said it expects that elevated flu activity will continue for weeks.

“It’s not too late to get vaccinated,” FDA Director Scott Gottlieb said in a statement.

According to the CDC, these are the symptoms of the flu:

• Fever or feeling feverish/chills (not everyone with flu will have a fever)
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Muscle or body aches
• Headaches
• Fatigue/tiredness
• Some people may have vomiting and diarrhea (more common in children than adults)

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According to the CDC, Maryland and 29 other states reported widespread flu activity for the week ending Jan. 5, while the remaining states reported regional, local or sporadic flu activity. The geographic spread of flu activity does not measure the severity of the virus.

The A(H1N1) viruses have predominated in most parts of the country, but the A(H3N2) viruses have predominated in the southeastern U.S. The CDC says it is too soon to assess how severe this flu season will be, but since the H1N1 virus emerged in 2009 it has been associated with significant illness and severe illness among young children.

RELATED: First Flu Cases In Maryland Of Season Confirmed

The CDC says that during most seasons, about 80 percent of children who die are not vaccinated. The agency cited a study that says the vaccine reduces the risk of death among healthy children by 65 percent and among children with a high-risk condition by 50 percent.

It takes about two weeks for the vaccine to provide protection against the flu. You can find more information about the flu vaccine and its benefits here.

You can use the CDC’s flu vaccine finder to locate a pharmacy or clinic near you that provides the vaccine:

— By Patch editors Feroze Dhanoa and Elizabeth Janney

Photo courtesy of Shutterstock.