Newest flu report shows 5 deaths in state

Flu activity in the state is continuing to slow, but the illness is still widespread and people continue to die from the disease.

According to the state Department of Public Health, the second wave of flu that started a few weeks ago — mainly sparked by increased circulation of B viruses — is already declining.

However, in the week ending April 21, the most recent week for which numbers were available, there were five flu-related deaths. The previous week, there were three such deaths.

As of April 21, 11,039 people have tested positive for the flu in Connecticut, which was an increase of 415 from the previous week. A total of 3,245 people were hospitalized with flu, up 110 from the previous week. There have been a total of 146 flu-associated deaths in the state this season, three of them in children younger than 18.

The number of flu deaths in Connecticut this season is the highest it’s been in roughly five years.

Despite the recent surge in people sick with type B flu viruses, most of those who have gotten sick, both in Connecticut and nationwide, have been struck with type A H3N2 viruses.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have revealed that this year’s vaccine was only 25 percent effective against preventing type A H3N2 viruses, though it was more effective against other strains of flu, and 36 percent effective on average.