Rate of new flu cases slows in Western Pennsylvania

Confirmed cases of the flu in Western Pennsylvania increased at a slower rate last week than in either of the previous two weeks, according to state Department of Health data.

“While it is far too early to say that flu season has peaked, we have seen fewer cases over the last two weeks than we did at the end of 2019 and first week of 2020,” department spokesman Nate Wardle said. “In addition, there were no deaths reported in week three (of 2020), so we remain at 24 deaths.”

The flu season started Sept. 29 and is expected to run through mid-May.

As of the week ending Jan. 18, there were 39,421 laboratory-confirmed flu cases statewide so far this flu season, an increase of 22% from the prior week, according to the health department.

That increase was down from a 27% increase for the week ending Jan. 11 and a 46% increase for the week ending Jan. 4.

Flu-related hospitalizations increased by 22% to 836.

In the seven-county Pittsburgh region, confirmed cases increased by 9% to 12,667. That rate of increase is down from 17% for the week ending Jan. 11 and 30% the week ending Jan. 4.

Nearly one-third of Pennsylvania’s confirmed flu cases are in the seven-county area consisting of Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Washington and Westmoreland counties.

Allegheny County has had the highest number of flu cases all season, and that remains unchanged. Allegheny County cases increased by 9% to 6,680. Montgomery County has the second-most cases with 2,574.

Westmoreland County had the highest increase in cases in the past week among Pittsburgh-area counties, showing a 12% increase to 1,814 cases.

While influenza type-B has been dominant all season, now accounting for nearly 70% of all cases statewide, cases of influenza type-A increased by 32% in the past week, compared to a 19% increase in type B.

”We continue to urge that people who have not received a flu vaccine get one,” Wardle said. “While we have seen influenza B dominate this flu season so far, there is the possibility that we see an emergence of influenza A as we move further into flu season, and that is an important reason to get a flu vaccine.”

Of the 24 deaths this flu season, 18 were in those age 65 and over; four were in the 50-to-64 age group, and two were in the 19-to-49 age group. There have been no deaths in the youngest age group, up to 18.

The state does not disclose where deaths occurred. The Allegheny County Health Department has confirmed one flu-related death this season.