FLU SEASON

One person over the age of 65 has already died from the flu virus.

HARTFORD — With the first reported flu death in Connecticut this season, officials took the opportunity Monday to implore residents to get the vaccine as soon as possible.

The state Department of Public Health reported the death on Friday, officials said. The patient was older than 65 years old — a population more susceptible to the flu’s intense symptoms.

“Now is the time. The flu season is right now,” said U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal at a press conference Monday. The 72-year- old senator got his flu shot last week.

Efforts to get people vaccinated have increased in recent weeks as the flu becomes more common. Officials said the season started in late August and could pick up in the coming weeks, as is typical most years.

Dr. Jack Ross, chief of infectious diseases at Hartford Hospital, said a good rule of thumb for many is to tie your flu shot date with the election. Since it takes about two weeks to be effective, people will be ready for the Thanksgiving holiday, a time in which the flu spreads.

So far this season, 22 people in Connecticut have been hospitalized. The health department said flu activity has been slowly increasing throughout the state. Ross said there have been several flu patients across the Hartford HealthCare network this season.

“This is not unusual. We always start to see cases in early September and October. When we really see it take off is when kids come home from college for Thanksgiving,” Ross said.

Ross said people should get vaccinated to further provide protection for the most vulnerable populations and those who cannot get vaccinated themselves. “Protect the others,” Ross said in his plea for people to get vaccinated.

Mick Bolduc, an epidemiologist for the state, said last month that it is never too early to get the shot, which serves as the best protection against the flu.

“Last year was not a great match, but people need to remember even in a year when the vaccine is not a great match … it is still the best protection we have,” Bolduc said.

It is still too early to predict what kind of a flu season the state might see, officials said. Last season was particularly deadly, with more 154 killed by the flu. It was the highest number of recorded fatalities since the state began tracking all flu deaths amid the swine flu pandemic.

Ross said Hartford Hospital saw twice as many patients with the flu as they normally see — over 910 cases. Last flu season was lengthy, Ross said, with a seven-week peak that started in January. The last cases were in late May.

Blumenthal said he has called for increased federal investment in universal flu vaccine development and is working on legislation to provide $1 billion in new investment over the next five years.

The federal budget has $100 million in the budget for research into a universal flu vaccine, but more money needs to be allocated, he said.

“We need a vaccine that is most effective and that requires a universal flu vaccine,” Blumenthal said. “Right now flu vaccines are effective 30 to 60 percent of the time.”

Courant staff writer Christine Dempsey contributed to this story.