Allegheny County records 2 more flu-related deaths
Two more Allegheny County residents have died from flu complications, bringing the county’s total flu-associated deaths this season to seven, the Allegheny County Health Department said Wednesday.
Department spokesman Ryan Scarpino said one of the residents was in their 60s, while the other was in their 40s.
The Health Department “is still reviewing to determine if they had underlying medical conditions,” Scarpino said.
The new deaths were included in data released by the state Department of Health on Tuesday, which showed there had been 40 flu-associated deaths across the state this flu season through Feb. 1.
Most of the deaths — 29 — involved people 65 and older.
The state did not disclose where deaths occurred.
Of the previous five deaths reported by the Allegheny County Health Department, two involved people in their 30s, one person was in their 40s, one was in their 70s and one was in their 90s. The department said all had underlying medical conditions.
As of Feb. 1, Allegheny County had reported about 8,000 confirmed flu cases this season, compared to 977 at the same point in the 2018-19 season. There have been 82 hospitalizations this season, compared with 32 last season.
There was only one death reported at this point in the 2018-19 flu season.
Brian C. Rittmeyer, a Pittsburgh native and graduate of Penn State University's Schreyer Honors College, has been with the Trib since December 2000. He can be reached at brittmeyer@triblive.com.
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