14 More Flu-Related Deaths Reported In CT: DPH

HARTFORD, CT — Fourteen more flu-related deaths were reported in the past week, according to state Department of Public Health's (DPH) weekly 2017-18 Influenza Season Update for the week ending on Feb. 10. DPH officials also announced that low/no-cost flu vaccine clinics will be held Saturday in Clinton, Coventry and Guilford.

“Sadly, 14 more influenza-associated deaths were reported to us last week,” DPH Commissioner Raul Pino said in a release. “Because we are still experiencing widespread influenza actively, it is likely that we will continue to see additional flu-related deaths in the coming weeks.”

According to this week’s update, flu activity in Connecticut remains high and widespread. Statewide emergency department visits attributed to the flu have increased over the last week to 14.3%, which is the highest weekly level observed in Connecticut since the 2009 H1N1 pandemic.

A total of 1,638 patients have been hospitalized with confirmed cases of flu between Aug. 27, 2017 and Feb. 10, 2018, and 4,915 influenza positive laboratory tests have been reported so far this season.

According to DPH officials, 77 deaths have been attributed to the flu so far this season, which is the highest number of influenza-associated deaths reported to the Department in the past five years.

Of these deaths, 62 were among patients over the age of 65, nine were 50-64 years of age, four were 25-49 years of age, one was between 19 and 24-years-old and one was between 5 and 18-years-old.

Officials also recommend routinely cleaning surfaces and objects that are touched often and emptying trash cans as the best way to slow the spread of the flu in homes, schools and businesses.

Photo credit: Shutterstock