Three new flu deaths in Connecticut

Coronavirus might be the prevailing disease story of the moment, but the state Department of Public Health reports that the flu is still here and still claiming lives.

According to the latest numbers from Connecticut DPH, three people died from flu-associated illness last week, bringing the total number of flulinked fatalities to 68 for the season to date.

The number represents a decline from the previous week, when seven people died in association with the contagious respiratory illness. The week before that, there were nine flu-associated deaths.

Hospitalizations for flu-like illness also declined to 178 last week from 224 the week before. So far this season, there have been 2,632 flu-associated hospitalizations.

But even as some numbers associated with the illness appear to be in decline, flu continues to be classified as widespread in Connecticut. This means that at least half the regions in Connecticut reported influenza outbreaks or increases in the number of flu-like illnesses.

The latest flu report also states that the rates of flu statewide last week are “similar” to what they were before. The percent of visits to outpatient facilities and emergency departments for flu-like illness also are close to where they were before. However, the state reported that flu-related visits to emergency departments are “higher than the level reported at this time in the previous year.”

A total of 11,778 people have tested positive for the flu in Connecticut as of March 7. To date, there has only been one flurelated pediatric death this season, in a child aged 1 to 5 years old.

Nationally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that so far this season there have been at least 34 million flu illnesses, 350,000 hospitalizations and 20,000 flu-associated deaths.

Zbigniew Bzdak / TNS The Connecticut Department of Public Health reported that there were three flu-associated deaths the week ending March 7, bringing the total for the season to 68.