Rhiza Labs FluTracker Forum

Pennsylvania is reporting 35 more flu deaths in week 3.

http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/se ... 490&mode=2

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Thirty five (35) influenza-related deaths were reported last week, making 75 the total number of flu-related deaths reported season-to-date. A majority of reported deaths are among the elderly (persons >65 years of age). No pediatric flu-related deaths (in persons <18 years) had been reported as of week 3.

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Summary of flu activity in Pennsylvania during week 3:
Weekly numbers are reconciled on a regular basis to account for data entry errors, reporting errors, exclusion on non-PA residents and inclusion of PA residents who are diagnosed with influenza out of state and reported to the PA DOH. The numbers below reflect what had been reported as of January 19, 2013.
· Flu-related Emergency Department have started going down in all regions of the state.
· 4% of outpatient doctor-visits reported by sentinel physicians were attributed to ILI, which is lower than 6% reported the previous week but still above baseline (2.4%).

· 23, 079 lab positive cases have been reported season-to-date. 4, 903 flu cases were reported during week 3, down from 5, 069 cases reported during week 2. Because influenza activity may continue into the spring, it is not too late to get influenza vaccination.

· Influenza viruses were detected in 70% of respiratory samples that were submitted to the state lab for comfirmatory testing during week 3, down from 90% the week before. At this time, it is not necessary to send all respiratory specimens to the state lab for confirmatory testing. Labs and hospitals may only submit samples from persons noted in our most recent health advisory.

· A majority of illness at this time is caused by influenza A/H3N2, a strain that generally causes severe illness in older age groups. Viruses circulating this season are similar to strains included in this years influenza vaccine.

· Influenza cases have now been reported in all Pennsylvania counties.

· 480 flu-related hospitalizations were reported during week 3, down from 577 reported the week before. Altogether, 2, 078 hospitalizations have been reported season to date. The median age of hospitalizations is 67 years (range 0 to 98) years.

· Sixty four (64) influenza-related outbreaks were reported during week 3. Altogether, 218 outbreaks have been reported season-to-date. This is further evidence of the impact influenza can have on the elderly. Vaccinating employees and residents of long term care facilities, along with infection control practices can limit the impact of influenza. A list of Pennsylvania hospitals and long term care facilities with >90% influenza vaccine coverage among employees can be found at, http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/se ... 994&mode=2.

· Thirty five (35) influenza-related deaths were reported last week, making 75 the total number of flu-related deaths reported season-to-date. A majority of reported deaths are among the elderly (persons >65 years of age). No pediatric flu-related deaths (in persons <18 years) had been reported as of week 3.

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Lab positive influenza-related deaths reported in Pennsylvania county, 10/02/12 - 01/19/2013 (n=75)

County
Reported deaths

Allegheny
7

Armstrong
2

Beaver
1

Bedford
2

Bethlehem
2

Blair
1

Bucks
2

Cambria
1

Centre
3

Chester
1

Clinton
1

Crawford
3

Cumberland
1

Dauphin
1

Delaware
1

Elk
1

Erie
2

Franklin
2

Indiana
1

Jefferson
2

Lancaster
3

Lebanon
1

Lehigh
2

Luzerne
1

Lycoming
2

Mercer
6

Montgomery
4

Philadelphia
7

Schuykill
2

Somerset
2

Westmoreland
5

Wilkes-Barre
1

York
2

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Lab positive influenza-related deaths reported in Pennsylvania county, 10/02/12 - 01/19/2013 (n=75)

Age group (years)
# of deaths

0 to 4
0

5 to 9
0

10 to 18
0

19 to 24
0

25 to 49
5

50 to 64
7

>65
63

Total
75

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Distribution of flu cases reported in Pennsylvania this season by county, 10/02/12 - 01/19/2013 (n= 23, 079)

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Lab positive flu cases reported in Pennsylvania county, 10/02/12 - 01/19/2013 (n= 23,079)

County
Reported Cases

ADAMS
168

ALLEGHENY
2104

ARMSTRONG
128

BEAVER
270

BEDFORD
147

BERKS
709

BLAIR
418

BRADFORD
146

BUCKS
741

BUTLER
579

CAMBRIA
215

CAMERON
25

CARBON
212

CENTRE
448

CHESTER
495

CLARION
190

CLEARFIELD
145

CLINTON
59

COLUMBIA
73

CRAWFORD
274

CUMBERLAND
456

DAUPHIN
565

DELAWARE
511

ELK
154

ERIE
584

FAYETTE
270

FOREST
10

FRANKLIN
414

FULTON
73

GREENE
160

HUNTINGDON
174

INDIANA
256

JEFFERSON
116

JUNIATA
85

LACKAWANNA
212

LANCASTER
830

LAWRENCE
71

LEBANON
310

LEHIGH
1651

LUZERNE
795

LYCOMING
256

MCKEAN
135

MERCER
259

MIFFLIN
132

MONROE
172

MONTGOMERY
1070

MONTOUR
41

NORTHAMPTON
1025

NORTHUMBERLAND
226

PERRY
43

PHILADELPHIA
796

PIKE
38

POTTER
94

SCHUYLKILL
365

SNYDER
112

SOMERSET
282

SULLIVAN
14

SUSQUEHANNA
41

TIOGA
83

UNION
164

VENANGO
100

WARREN
107

WASHINGTON
562

WAYNE
35

WESTMORELAND
869

WYOMING
45

YORK
770

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Lab positive influenza hospitalizations reported in Pennsylvania this season by week, 10/02/12 - 01/19/2013 (n= 2,078)

MMWRWK
Reported Hospitalizations

40
2

41
1

42
2

43
8

45
2

46
3

47
7

48
20

49
38

50
58

51
107

52
252

1
521

2
577

3
480

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Commentary

http://www.recombinomics.com/News/01221 ... k3_75.html

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Flu Blamed for 2 Deaths in Lehigh County

Statistics released Tuesday show 35 flu-related deaths last week, including two in Lehigh County. But health officials say the number of reported flu cases is going down.

By Mary Ellen Alu
Two people died from flu-related complications in Lehigh County in the past week, as the number of flu cases statewide declined, the state Department of Health reported Tuesday.

No deaths were reported in Northampton County.

Statewide, there were 35 flu-related deaths in the past week, bringing to 75 the total number of flu-related deaths this season, from Oct. 2 through Jan. 19. Confirmed flu cases now number 23,079.

However, the number of flu-related cases, as well as the number of hospital emergency visits, declined from the previous week, according to the state health department. In all in Pennsylvania, 4,903 flu cases were reported, down from 5,069 the previous week.

The state health department put the number of confirmed flu cases in the Lehigh Valley at 2,676, as of Jan. 19:

•1,651 cases in Lehigh County
•1,025 cases in Northampton County
Lab-confirmed flu cases represent only a fraction of those with the flu, state health officials say, since most people with the flu -- including those who seek health care -- are diagnosed without lab testing.

Most of the reported deaths were among those 65 and older. No pediatic flu-related deaths have been reported to the state. (Lehigh Valley Health Network reported earlier this month that an infant had died of likely flu complications. A hospital spokesman had told The Morning Call last week it was still awaiting confirmation.)

Since flu activity could continue into spring, it is not too late to get a flu shot. To find a place near you to get a flu shot, type your zip code into the Flu Finder site.

Also, Westfield Hospital in South Whitehall is offering free flu vaccines from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 23.

Influenza—more commonly known as "the flu"—is a contagious respiratory illness caused by viruses infecting the nose, throat and lungs. It spreads via infected people coughing, sneezing or talking, though people can also get infected by touching something with the flu virus on it before touching their mouth, eyes or nose.

Symptoms of the flu include muscle or body aches, headache, cough, sore throat, fatigue, fever or chills, and vomiting and diarrhea (the latter two are more common in kids). The flu can also worsen chronic medical conditions or cause death.

http://southwhitehall.patch.com/articles/flu-f36a29e2

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