Pa. Health Department: Flu 'widespread' in state
Pennsylvania Health Department reports flu 'widespread' in state weeks in advance of peak
Pam Horn administers the flu vaccine to employee Michael Karolitzky at Philly Flu Shots, a division of Concorde Inc.,Thursday, Jan. 10, 2013, in Philadelphia. The Pennsylvania Department of Health says flu is now "widespread" throughout the state and things are likely only going to get worse because the season typically doesn't peak until the middle of this month or February. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) -- Flu cases are mounting in Pennsylvania, and 22 deaths have been attributed to the illness, state health officials said.
The number of cases could continue to spike because the flu season typically doesn't peak for at least another couple weeks.
The Pennsylvania Department of Health designated flu as now "widespread" throughout the commonwealth. There have been more than 11,000 laboratory-confirmed flu cases in the state since the flu season began in mid-December, with nearly 4,300 of those reported last week alone.
The Health Department's flu-tracking website (www.flufreepa.com) said "widespread" is the highest category for tracking the virus. That means there have been outbreaks or increases in flu-like or "laboratory-confirmed influenza in at least half the regions of the state with recent laboratory evidence of influenza in the state."
Eighteen of the 22 flu-related deaths statewide were reported in the past week, the health department said in statistics updated Tuesday. The majority were reported among Pennsylvanians older than 65, but two involved "otherwise healthy young individuals" under 50, the state said.
An infant died last weekend from flu-related symptoms, said Matthew Burns, a spokesman for the Lehigh Valley Health Network. The state update said no pediatric flu-related death had been reported.
The state also reported 971 flu-related hospitalizations.
The Lehigh Valley medical system's Cedar Crest location recently set up a secondary emergency department in a "mobile surge tent" outside the hospital in an effort to prevent the spread of the virus. The hospital directed patients experiencing flu-like symptoms to report to the main emergency room entrance for assessment before being escorted to a treatment area.
A flu shot is the best way to prevent influenza, the health system said in guidelines posted on its website.
Experts advise people to stay home if they are experiencing flu-like symptoms including fever, cough, fatigue, sore throat, muscle aches and headaches. Other recommendations from the Lehigh Valley Health Network include disinfecting common areas in the home or work area daily, and using hand sanitizer frequently.
