Delaware’s Division of Public Health is reporting another flu death, but the latest victim is different.
Flu claimed a 47-year New Castle County woman earlier this week and she is the first person to die locally that did not have other underlying health conditions.
She also did not get a flu shot.
In a statement, DPH Director Dr. Karyl Rattay called this most recent flu death a “solemn and stark reminder” that the flu can be fatal to people who are otherwise considered healthy.
This is the state’s 11th flu death this season, and officials say the season has not peaked yet.
State health officials add initial reports are that Delaware had more than 1,200 laboratory-confirmed flu cases for the week ending Feb. 10. That would top the record 995 cases the state reported the previous week. And the Div. of Public Health notes the numbers are not final and that new one-week total will likely be even higher
DPH continues to encourage people to get a flu shot and, if they experience flu symptoms to stay home until they are fever-free for 24 hours