Georgia Flu Update: 66 Deaths, Hospitalization Rate Up

ATLANTA, GA — Georgia experienced widespread high-intensity flu statewide in the past week, according to the Georgia Department of Public Health. More than a thousand Georgians have been hospitalized and 66 have died, including two pediatric cases, since the start of the season late last fall.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed that 17,101 people have been hospitalized so far this season for influenza-associated reasons. Sixty-three pediatric deaths nationwide have been reported.

The most frequently identified flu virus subtype reported by public health laboratories was influenza A(H3), a particularly aggressive and highly contagious strain.

Young kids and senior citizens are most likely to be hospitalized for the flu this year. Of every 100,000 kids, 36 are being hospitalized for the flu, and of every 100,000 seniors, 111 are hospitalized. By comparison, kids age 5 to 17 are hospitalized for the flu at a rate of eight per 100,000.

This graphic from the CDC shows that week five of 2018 is seeing a much higher hospitalization rate across the United States than the same time in previous seasons, at a rate of 59.9 per 100,000.

In Georgia, 15.8 percent, or about one-in-six, of outpatient visits were due to influenza-like illnesses. This is almost doubled from the first week of January, when under 7 percent of visits were due to the flu.

A 5-year-old Marietta boy died of flu complications last Saturday. It's also been reported that a 15-year-old Newnan girl died last Tuesday of flu symptoms.

The flu is widespread in 48 states and Puerto Rico, according to the CDC. Hawaii and Oregon, where the flu is not widespread, are still experiencing regional flu outbreaks.

The best protection against the flu is vaccination, and health officials have been stressing that it's not too late to get a flu shot. A CDC spokesperson told Patch that as of Jan. 2, 152.1 million doses of the flu vaccine have been distributed. Private manufacturers who produce the vaccine originally predicted that as many as 166 million doses of injectable flu vaccine would be made available for the current flu season.

Vaccine shortages have been reported in some areas as the flu season drags on. The best way to find pharmacies providing the vaccine is to check at Vaccine Finder. The website reminds people to call and check with a vaccine provider location to ensure that the vaccine is available.

A representative for Vaccine Finder said the website does not offer a tool that shows whether the vaccine is available at a particular pharmacy; thus the warning notification on the website.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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