The First State is seeking a significant uptick in flu cases.
Delaware’s Division of Public Health reports the state had 92 new lab-confirmed flu cases last week. That’s double the number of cases from the previous week – and was just below the 100 flu cases the state had for the entire the 2015-2016 flu season as of February 13th.
Those numbers also do not include the flu outbreak the Howard R. Young Correctional Institution is experiencing. The Department of Corrections Wednesday announced the total number of cases at the northeast Wilmington prison has increased to 34 – with another 18 potential cases are being evaluated and tested.
The Department of Corrections continues to screen staff and offenders and educate inmates about the importance of getting vaccinated in an effort to limit new cases. It is also diverting all new inmates to James T. Vaughn Correctional Center in Smyrna, while visits, volunteer shifts and programs at Howard R. Young remains canceled.
The Division of Public Health says it is not too late to get a flu shot and recommends one for anyone over 6 years old. The CDC says this year’s vaccine is 60 percent effective at preventing the flu.
