State: Nine new flu deaths; total at 58 for season in CT
Though coronavirus is getting the headlines, flu continues to be the more immediate threat in Connecticut as the state reported nine new flu-associated deaths had happened in the week ending Feb. 22.
Yet the rate of flu activity in the state seems to be declining.
The latest group of fluassociated deaths brings the total of deaths this season to 58. To date, there has only been one pediatric death this season, in a child aged 1 to 5 years old.
According to the latest flu report from the state Department of Public Health, a total 10,286 people have tested positive for the flu this season. Last week alone, 321 people were hospitalized with flu-related illness, an increase from 204 the previous week. A total of 2,230 people in Connecticut has been hospitalized due to flu this season.
Influenza B continues to be the prevailing strain this season, with 51 percent of flu cases in the state attributed to influenza B.
On the bright side, the percent of both outpatient visits and emergency department visits due to flurelated illness declined for the second week in a row, and the rate of influenzalike illnesses in the state continued to decline.
However, flu activity in the state is still classified as widespread, meaning that at least half the regions in Connecticut
reported influenza outbreaks or increases in the number of flu-like illnesses.
Nationwide, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that, as of Feb. 15, there were 46 states, including Connecticut, where flu activity was classified as high. The CDC estimates that there have been at least 29 million flu illnesses, 280,000 hospitalizations and 16,000 deaths from flu this season.