Connecticut flu cases reach 78 for the season — so far

Flu cases continue to rise slowly in Connecticut, but deaths and hospitalizations because of the illness remain flat.

The latest flu report published by the state Department of Public Health shows that as of Feb. 27, 78 people in Connecticut tested positive for the flu — up from 69 a week earlier. No new flu deaths or hospitalizations were reported last week.

So far in Connecticut this season, one flu-related death and 13 flu-related hospitalizations have been reported.

This flu season has been unusually quiet. By comparison, last year as of Feb. 22, 10,286 people tested positive for the flu and 58 flu-associated deaths and 2,230 flu-associated hospitalizations were reported.

Flu in Connecticut has been classified as “sporadic” for months. Sporadic means that a small number of laboratoryconfirmed flu cases or a single laboratory-confirmed outbreak has been reported, but no increase in cases of influenza-like illness.

Flu cases have been low nationally, as well. Throughout this flu season, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have regularly reported the number of people testing positive for flu is “unusually low,” and that all states were experiencing minimal flu activity. However, the CDC reported that flu levels might be affected by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and “should be interpreted with caution.”

Experts have attributed this season’s low flu numbers to the protective measures to guard against COVID-19 during the pandemic. The measures include wearing masks and avoiding large groups — measures that could help prevent the spread not just of COVID-19 but other contagious illnesses, including flu.