Flu-related deaths double in Ga.

Hospitalizations due to the illness are rising sharply too.

The number of flu-related deaths in Georgia has more than doubled, climbing to 25 from 12, state health officials reported late Friday.

The Department of Public Health also said there were 115 hospitalizations in the metro Atlanta area due to influenza infection during the week of Jan. 14 through Jan. 20. The week before, there were 40 hospitalizations in metro Atlanta due to flu.

There have been 671 hospitalizations in the region so far this flu season.

Nationally, flu activity has remained widespread in 49 states from coast to coast for three weeks in a row.

The number of people getting the flu is still increasing, as is the hospitalization rate. The latter — a predictor of the death rate — is now on track to equal or surpass that of the 2014-2015 flu season, the New York Times reported.

Like that year, the main strain of flu circulating this year is the H3N2 strains, which tends to cause more illnesses and deaths.

About 34 million Americans got the flu in 2014-15, including about 710,000 people who were hospitalized and about 56,000 who died, said Dr. Dan Jernigan, director of the influenza division at the CDC.

Kristen Nordlund, a CDC spokeswoman, said that “hopefully we’re in the peak currently, since the data is a week behind, or that it peaks soon,” according to CNN.

“Regardless, there is a lot of flu activity happening across the country and likely Dr. Dan Jernigan many more weeks to come,” Nordlund added.

The flu is hitting the 65and-over age group hardest, but the next-hardest hit is the 50-to-64 age group. Usually, it’s children who occupy the second-hardest-hit spot, NPR reported.

Still, seven more influenza associated pediatric deaths were reported nationally, bringing this season’s total to 37.

In Georgia, 20 of the 25 deaths were in the 65-andover age group. There have not been any child deaths reported here, according to Public Health figures.

Hospitals across the state have been scrambling to keep up with the load of patients.

Wellstar Health System, which has 11 hospitals, is seeing a 30 percent spike in flu patients this month compared to last January, WABE

reported. “I just think that because we’ve had the cold snap, we were all together in our homes and our kids were out of school that we will see another increase in the flu volume,” said Freda Lyon, vice president of emergency services for WellStar.

The Georgia Department of Public Health reiterated Friday that it’s not too late to get a flu shot.

“It is especially important for those

at high risk of flu complications,’’ the agency said, citing the elderly, the very young, pregnant women, residents of nursing homes and longterm care facilities, and individuals with existing medical conditions.