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Third flu-related death reported in Delaware

Delaware Public Media

A severe flu season continues to take its toll in the First State.

Delaware’s Division of Public Health is reporting the state’s third flu related death this season – and the first downstate.

The latest victim is 76-year-old Sussex County man who died over the weekend in a New Castle County hospital.  Officials say he had additional underlying health conditions.

The two previous flu-related deaths locally involved New Castle County residents, a 83-year-old female and a 47-year-old male. They also had underlying heath issues.

DPH says the flu activity remains widespread in Delaware. The state reports 912 laboratory-confirmed cases of influenza as of last week. That’s up from 555 on January 6th.

And last year at this time, Delaware had 520 lab-confirmed cases and two flu-related deaths.

DPH continues to urge those who have not had a flu shot to get one.  If you get flu, state health officials recommend staying home from work, school, and other gatherings until you are free of fever for at least 24 hours.

DPH is also encouraging medical providers to begin antiviral treatment for all hospitalized flu patients or those at risk they suspect have the flu.

Tom Byrne has been a fixture covering news in Delaware for three decades. He joined Delaware Public Media in 2010 as our first news director and has guided the news team ever since. When he's not covering the news, he can be found reading history or pursuing his love of all things athletic.
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