The flu-related deaths of two Massachusetts children and a widespread spike in the illness is causing concern as flu season hits its peak — with the state calling this season “high risk.”
State public health officials confirmed two cases of pediatric flu-related deaths in the past week. One was a girl from Middlesex County and another was 12-year-old Aaron Zenus of Milford as identified by local officials.
Last year, Massachusetts only experienced one child flu death. The state Department of Public Health is classifying this flu season as “high risk” and widespread.
In Boston, year-to-date flu totals have already reached 807 cases. Last year, that number was only 722 according to the DPH weekly influenza surveillance report. Across the state, year-to-date flu totals reached 7,528 cases whereas last year at this time, only 6,321 cases had been confirmed.
“January and February are typically the height of the flu season, and flu-related complications can result in very serious, life-threatening illness and even death, among both children and adults,” said Larry Madoff, DPH’s director of epidemiology.
According to DPH, laboratory-confirmed instances of the flu have been increasing over the last several weeks. An estimated 250 to 1,100 Bay State residents die annually from complications related to the flu.
“These deaths are tragic and are a reminder of the dangers of flu and the importance of flu vaccination, our best protection against illness. The Department of Public Health urges people to get vaccinated, to wash their hands, cover their cough and sneeze and stay home when sick to limit the spread of disease,” Madoff said.
Madoff said there is plenty of flu vaccine available and it isn’t too late to protect yourself. Although one can still contract the flu after getting the vaccine, symptoms will likely be less severe.
“This has been one of our more severe flu seasons, similar to last year which was one of the most severe seasons in the last several years,” Madoff said at a press conference yesterday.
Madoff added that antiviral medicines are also available to treat flu symptoms and lessen the risk of complications. New on the market this year is Xofluza, a one-dose treatment much like Tamiflu.
Americans across the country are also getting hit hard with the flu. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates there have been more than 10 million flu cases and more than 118,000 flu hospitalizations in the United States since October 2018. The CDC estimates that in the U.S. there are between 12,000 and 56,000 deaths due to complications of flu each year.
