It is still too early to predict what kind of a flu season the state might see, officials said. Last season was particularly deadly, with more 154 killed by the flu. It was the highest number of recorded fatalities since the state began tracking all flu deaths amid the swine flu pandemic.<doc-sep>The state Department of Health has reported the first flu death in Connecticut this season. And though experts said this isn’t necessarily a harbinger of a nastier than usual flu season, they say it should drive home the message that the flu is dangerous, and people should get vaccinatedess. “Sometimes people don’t take the flu seriously, but it’s deadly,” said Dr. Zane Saul, chief of infectious disease at Bridgeport Hospital. According to the health department, the person who died was older than 65. No other details about the individual were released. The Department of Public Health reported that between Aug. 26 and Oct. 13, 22 people in the state were hospitalized with the flu, and 41 tested positive for the contagious respiratory illness. Cases of the flu are still classified as “sporadic” in the state, meaning that small numbers of laboratory-confirmed influenza cases or a single laboratory-confirmed influenza outbreak has been reported. Local hospitals said they have only see a handful of cases so far, but expect that rate to pick up soon. At Bridgeport Hospital, Saul said he wasn’t aware of anyone being hospitalized there with flu, but that several people had come in with symptoms. Though Saul said that October, “is a little early for a death,” it doesn’t seem that flu activity is anywhere near its peak in the state. And he said that one early death doesn’t mean the state is in for a particularly bad flu season. Dr. Goran Miljkovic, infectious disease specialist at Bridgeport Hospital, said adults 65 and older are particularly vulnerable to the flu, along with young children, and those with compromised immune systems. He also said that a single early death doesn’t necessarily cast a pall over the rest of the season. More News News Americares, Walgreens partner for flu shots “Even one case of flu can lead to a death,” Miljkovic said. However, the state is coming off a particularly bad flu season. Last season, there were 154 deaths from the illness in Connecticut — including those of at least three children. It was the deadliest flu season in five years, according to the state Department of Public Health. Nationwide, more than 80,000 people died from flu last year. Influenza facts Here are some facts about flu activity in Connecticut, from the Connecticut Department of Public Health. A total of 41 people tested positive for the flu between Aug. 26 and Oct. 13 Of those, 15 patients were from New Haven County, 13 were from Hartford County, six were from Fairfield County, four were from Litchfield County and three were from Windham County A total of 22 people in state were hospitalized with lab-confirmed flu between Aug. 26 and Oct. 13 Of those hospitalized, 15 were associated with Type A (subtype unspecified) influenza; four were associated with influenza A (H3N2) and three with influenza B. There has been one flu-related death in Connecticut so far this season. See More Collapse At least part of the reason the last flu season was so difficult was that the flu vaccine was not as effective as many had hoped. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, last season’s flu vaccine was, on average, 36 percent effective at preventing flu infections. In September, Congress approved $140 million in new federal funding toward a universal flu vaccine. That is on top of a $40 million increase in federal funding for development of a universal flu vaccine secured earlier this year. On Monday, U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn, was at Hartford Hospital to announce he is helping to push legislation that would provide $1 billion in new flu research investment over the next five years. Meanwhile, doctors said that even when the flu shot isn’t a perfect match for the strains of flu circulating in an area, it does offer some protection. “Influenza is a disease that can cause pneumonia and death,” said Dr. Michael Parry, director of infectious disease at Stamford Hospital. “That’s why we are so aggressive about getting people vaccinated.” Staff writer Jim Shay contributed to this report.<doc-sep>A child in Florida who had not received the flu vaccine died from the virus, state officials announced on Monday, the first influenza-related pediatric death reported in the country this flu season. While flu activity remains low across the United States, the Florida Department of Health said that a child tested positive for one of the strains, influenza B, and later died. Health officials would not release details about the death, including the child’s age, gender or location in the state, but said that the child did not have an underlying medical condition and died between Sept. 30 and Oct. 6. The flu season, which just began and stretches into winter, typically peaks during the coldest months. The death was notable because it occurred before any significant outbreaks in Florida or beyond and before many people have even received the vaccination. Federal health officials recommend getting the flu shot before the end of October. It was not clear whether the child did not get the flu shot on purpose or whether the child had expected to receive it later in the season. A spokesman for the health department said that the state could not release more information about the case because of privacy concerns.<doc-sep>
Health officials in Connecticut have confirmed the first flu death of the season, adding that the virus has sent another 22 patients to the hospital. The state’s health department did not identify the patient in their announcement, nor did it reveal when the death occurred, but it said flu-related activity has been slowly increasing since the end of August. The state reported 154 deaths last year due to flu-related illness, making it Connecticut’s deadliest in five years. SHOULD YOU GET THE FLU SHOT? WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE 2018-19 FLU SEASON “Last year [the vaccine] was not a great match, but people need to remember even in a year when the vaccine is not a great match … it is still the best protection we have,” Mick Bolduc, an epidemiologist for Connecticut, told the Hartford Courant. Medical professionals across the country have echoed that statement as they look to decrease the amount of virus-related fatalities following last year’s record highs. The flu killed an estimated 80,000 Americans last season, making it the worst in decades. Florida health officials recently reported their first flu-related pediatric death, adding that the child had been unvaccinated. 8 THINGS YOUR MUCUS SAYS ABOUT YOUR HEALTH “The flu shot is incredibly important because it reduces your risk of contracting the flu,” Michelle Lin, an emergency room doctor, and professor of emergency medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City told Fox News last week. “It also reduces your risk for complications and passing it to other people, especially pregnant women, young children and the elderly.” The CDC and American Academy of Pediatrics urge anyone ages 6 months and older to receive the vaccine before the end of October when flu activity typically experiences an increase. Fox News' Madeline Farber contributed to this report