Flu deaths climb to 47 in Pennsylvania this season

The flu contributed to another seven deaths in the past week of a flu season that shows no signs of letting up, according to data the state Department of Health released Tuesday.

Through Saturday, 47 flu-associated deaths had been reported this flu season, up from 40 the week before. It’s the second week that the state’s flu-related death total increased by seven.

“Over the last few weeks, we have seen the most flu cases of the season,” Health Department spokeswoman Brittany Lauffer said. “That shows that at this time, flu is not letting up.”

Most of the deaths, 34, have been among people age 65 and over. There were five additional deaths in that age group in the past week.

There were two more deaths in the 50-to-64 age group in the past week, for a total of seven deaths this flu season.

Six people who died this flu season were between 19 and 49.

No deaths have yet been reported in the youngest age group, up to 18.

The state does not disclose where deaths happened.

Statewide, laboratory-confirmed flu cases increased 21% in the past week to 72,460, according to the Health Department. Flu-associated hospitalizations increased by 24% to 1,632.

While type B remains dominant, accounting for 63% of statewide cases, type A cases increased by nearly twice as much in the past week, 30% for type A compared with 17% for type B.

Type A and B are different strains of the flu, Lauffer said.

“Seeing that we saw more type B to start the year, the fact that we now are seeing more type A is concerning, because people can get sick from both strains, and Influenza A is typically more severe for the very young and the older populations,” she said.

In the seven-county Pittsburgh area, flu cases increased 10% to 16,860. Cases in the area — including Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Washington and Westmoreland counties — account for 23% of the state total.

Allegheny County, which had the highest number of confirmed flu cases since the season began Sept. 29, continues to lead the state with 8,750 cases, up 9%. Montgomery County is a distant second, with 5,247 confirmed cases.

In the Pittsburgh area, the largest increase in the past week was seen in Butler County, where confirmed cases increased by 20% to 772.

Lauffer said it is essential that residents take steps to protect themselves, “such as washing your hands frequently, coughing or sneezing into your arm, cleaning surfaces such as countertops, cellphones, light switches and others frequently, and if you are sick, stay home.”