CT Reports First Flu Death Of 2022-2023 Season

CONNECTICUT — Connecticut had its first confirmed flu death of the 2022-2023 season as infections with the virus ramp up to their highest level in years.

The victim was a New London County resident between the ages of 50 and 59, according to the state Department of Public Health.

Connecticut had close to 6,000 identified flu cases as of Nov. 26, which is abnormally high for this time of year, DPH Commissioner Dr. Manisha Juthani said. There have been 102 flu-related hospitalizations to-date, mostly among older adults. Fairfield County is currently being hit the hardest.

Juthani urged people to get the annual flu vaccine and the COVID-19 updated booster. It's particularly important for older adults.

So far, this flu season is shaping up to be the worst since 2019-2020, she said. Flu typically affects Southern Hemisphere countries first during their winter. Cases were more severe than in previous years, and there were more cases than the average year.

“Given that we have not had our peak yet in Connecticut, and given that our numbers are the highest they have been in over the last four years. I certainly expect us to reach highs that we had similar to the 2019-2020 season,” Juthani said.

RSV

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections continue to challenge pediatric providers. There have been more than 950 identified cases in Connecticut this year. Like flu, RSV season arrived earlier than normal for Connecticut this season.

“We know that our pediatric hospitals and ICUs have definitely felt the burden of this” Juthani said. “Our highest number of cases have been in Hartford County.”

Children under 4 years of age are the most likely to have severe complications from RSV, but the risk is especially pronounced for babies up to six-months-old., Juthani said.

DPH is coordinating with the Connecticut Hospital Association and regional partners to secure access to pediatric beds.

COVID-19

COVID-19 case rates and hospitalizations have been mostly flat since May, but Juthani predicted they would peak sometime in January or February. The COVID-19 peak will likely occur after flu and RSV infection peaks, but it’s difficult to predict.

“This is the first season we've had with all these viruses competing with each other,” Juthani said.