Travis County Flu Deaths Rise To 20

AUSTIN, TX — The number of fatalities blamed on the flu has risen to 20 — four times more than the entirety of last season's influenza period with as many as two months left to go this year.

Its most recent report on Jan. 22, Austin Public Health officials said there have been 20 influenza-associated deaths have been reported among Travis County residents, with no pediatric cases among them. The grim milestone was reached against a backdrop of a more forceful flu season nationwide than past seasons, with a particular influenza strain more resistant than in years past.

Statewide, more 2,300 adult deaths and four pediatric deaths attributed to pneumonia and influenza have been recorded as of Jan. 17, according to the latest available data from the Texas Department of State Health Services.

And the toll is likely to rise, as health officials — including those at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) — predict this flu season this year might extend to April. The CDC has issued an officials health advisory in light of the flu epidemic.

"According to CDC," Austin Public Health officials wrote in their report, "influenza activity is expected to continue. Over the past 15 flu seasons, this is the first time all the states in the continental US have reported widespread flu activity."

Austin Public Health officials noted in their report that there have been 19 outbreaks reported among long term care facilities in Travis County.

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In an attempt to mitigate the trend, county health officials urge residents to get the flu shot. Officials note that children six months of age or older who are uninsured and adults who lack insurance or on Medicare are eligible for free flu shots at the City of Austin Public Health Department Immunization clinics Shot for Tots/Big Shots. For an appointment, call (512) 972-5520.

Texas Health and Human Services officials suggest calling 211 for flu information and vaccination locations, or by using their vaccine finder

Austin Public Health officials have issued a number of tips to deter the spread of flu:

• Stay home if you are sick.
• Wash your hands frequently.
• Avoid others who are sick.
• Cough or sneeze into your sleeve or into a tissue.
• Avoid touching your face - your mouth, nose, and eyes.

For more information, click here.

Officials at the Texas Health and Human Services agency also are scrambling to curb the flu trend by offering teachers printable downloads of materials to help teach children how to protect themselves from the flu. Another link offers materials with fliers, stickers and door hangers with messaging designed to help spread the word on flu prevention.

For their part, CDC officials have detailed recommendations to mitigate the flu this season. Moreover, officials strongly urge all hospitalized, severely ill and high-risk patients with suspected or confirmed influenza should be treated with antivirals.

Any patient with suspected or confirmed influenza in the following categories should be treated as soon as possible with a neuraminidase inhibitor, according to the CDC:

• Any patient who is hospitalized—treatment is recommended for all hospitalized patients.
• Any patient who has severe, complicated, or progressive illness—this may include outpatients with severe or prolonged progressive symptoms or who develop complications such as pneumonia but who are not hospitalized.
• Any patient who is at higher risk for influenza complications but not hospitalized.

Patients in this group include:

• Children younger than 2 years (although all children younger than 5 years are considered at higher risk for complications from influenza, the highest risk is for those younger than 2 years).

• Adults aged 65 years and older

• Persons with chronic pulmonary (including asthma), cardiovascular (except hypertension alone), renal, hepatic, hematological (including sickle cell disease), and metabolic disorders (including diabetes mellitus), or neurologic and neurodevelopment conditions (including disorders of the brain, spinal cord, peripheral nerve, and muscle such as cerebral palsy, epilepsy [seizure disorders], stroke, intellectual disability [mental retardation], moderate to severe developmental delay, muscular dystrophy, or spinal cord injury).

• People with immunosuppression, including that caused by medications or by HIV infection.

• Women who are pregnant or postpartum (within 2 weeks after delivery).

• People aged younger than 19 years who are receiving long-term aspirin therapy.

• American Indians/Alaska Natives.

• People with extreme obesity (i.e., body-mass index is equal to or greater than 40).

• Residents of nursing homes and other chronic-care facilities.

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