Public health officials in Connecticut say there has been another spike in flu-related illnesses and hospitalizations and seven more deaths have been reported in a week.
The Department of Public Health said in a statement released Thursday that influenza activity is past peak in Connecticut, but an increase in over the past several weeks of influenza B viruses has been causing a "second wave" of the flu that already hit the state hard.
“It’s really unknown why this happens,” said Ledge Light Health District Epidemiologist Russell Melmed. “The science on this is not clear about why suddenly there’s a resurgence of B strain after the peak of an A strain.”
What is clear is that anyone can get sick. Melmed said it’s not too late to get a flu shot, and there could be elevated activity in May.
“The CDC recently came out with a study that said actually, there is no difference between older people or younger people. When everybody gets the flu, they kind of get it the same with Influenza B,” Melmed said.
The department recorded 138 flu-related deaths this season, as of April 7, up from 131 the week before the release was issued. The number of deaths is the highest it's been in five years.
So far, nearly 10,300 people have tested positive for flu in the state.
Local
The department says more than 3,000 people have been hospitalized.
