MD Flu Deaths Climb As Flu More Worrisome Than Coronavirus

MARYLAND — For the second week in a row, the number of flu deaths increased in Maryland. A wide share of Americans express more concern about catching the flu over the new coronavirus, according to a new poll, and are moderately confident in the ability of U.S. health officials to handle emerging viruses like coronavirus.

About 4 in 10 Americans say they are moderately worried about catching the flu, according to the poll conducted by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, compared with 2 in 10 who are concerned about catching coronavirus. The level of concern is appropriate, researchers say, as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recorded 29 million flu-related illnesses in the United States this year, according to the center's report for the week ending Feb. 15. This is compared to only 15 confirmed cases of coronavirus.

In Maryland, the CDC reports about 2,700 total flu cases in the past three weeks. Influenza A has been the slightly more dominant strain in the state with 1,347 confirmed cases. A reported 1,240 people tested positive for influenza B.

The Maryland Department of Health says that for the week ending Feb. 15, 2,090 people tested positive for Type A flu, while Type B flu was confirmed in 1,492 patients.

A total of five children younger than age 18 have died in Maryland this season from the flu, two of them in the first two weeks of February. Four more adults died from the flu thee week of Feb. 15; that makes 33 deaths of hospitalized patients.

Typically, the groups most at risk of the flu are older adults, very young children, pregnant women and those with certain chronic medical conditions.

According to the CDC, symptoms of the flu include:

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

The flu is a highly contagious illness, which is why the CDC urges everyone to take the following steps to protect themselves and others:

• Take time to get a flu shot: While there are many different flu viruses, a flu vaccine protects against the viruses that research suggests will be most common. The CDC says it's not too late to get this year's vaccine.
• Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
• While sick, limit contact with others as much as possible to keep from infecting them.
• If you are sick with flu symptoms, you should stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. (Your fever should be gone for 24 hours without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.)
• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Germs spread this way.
• Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that may be contaminated with germs such as the flu.
• Take flu antiviral drugs if your doctor prescribes them.

The flu is also hitting younger Americans especially hard. So far this season, the CDC has reported a total of 105 pediatric deaths. In January, reported pediatric deaths were more than double what they were last season.

In total, 16,000 people in the United States have died due to flu-related illnesses and complications, according to the latest CDC data.