Delaware’s Division of Public Health (DPH) is reporting the first flu-related deaths of the season.
Two Sussex County residents, one man and one woman, each over the age of sixty and afflicted with underlying health conditions, died this week as a result of complications from the flu.
The First State saw an uptick of influenza at the end of 2019 - much like the rest of the country.
DPH had reported 613 total flu cases this season in Delaware through December 22.
In the week that followed, the number of cases here rose 43% with at least 470 people getting sick.
That’s the biggest one week jump so far this season.
The latest data, as of Dec. 28, counts 1,083 laboratory-confirmed flu cases in Delaware this season with 65 people being hospitalized as a result.
There were 681 flu cases reported statewide at the same time last year, with 140 hospitalizations.
In a tweet yesterday, Delaware’s Department of Health and Social Services wrote, “now is the time to get your flu shot, stay home if you are sick and keep washing those hands.”
