Colorado Influenza 2017-18; 4 fatalities, including 2 children

[Ronan Kelly]

Colorado sets new high record for flu hospitalizations

Havens Webster, Reporter
May 2, 2018

Colorado has had 3,550 flu hospitalizations this season, which is a new high record. The strain of this influenza is very dangerous and affecting many people, and is still ongoing.

The virus, H3N2, has affected many people, especially the children and elderly. Colorado is among the few states in the U.S. that has been hit especially hard by this virus putting many people in the hospital.

? This year there have been 67 flu hospitalizations, and the season isn?t over,? said Penny Hill, an Infection Control/Health Manager employee of the San Juan Regional Medical Center.

The new strain of the flu virus known as Influenza A, H3N2, is affecting many people, but with the vaccination, it can reduce the severity of the disease. It has hospitalized 3,550 people, with one pediatric death.
...

https://eldiablonews.com/3413/news/colorado-sets-new-high-record-for-flu-hospitalizations/

[Ronan Kelly]

Tech worker, 26, suddenly dies of flu and altitude sickness 'perfect storm' two days into family ski trip in Colorado
James Flath, from Missouri, felt sick when he arrived in Colorado on Friday
He was diagnosed with the flu on Saturday morning and stayed in to recover
Hours later he was unresponsive and his parents and girlfriend rushed him to the hospital
He died on Sunday morning of respiratory failure attributed to altitude sickness
By MIA DE GRAAF HEALTH EDITOR FOR DAILYMAIL.COM

PUBLISHED: 13:00 EDT, 28 March 2018 | UPDATED: 14:41 EDT, 28 March 2018
...

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-5555037/Man-26-suddenly-dies-perfect-storm-flu-altitude-sickness-skiing-Colorado.html

[Ronan Kelly]

Flu Season Sets 2 Records For Colorado ? CBS Denver
February 21, 2018 / by Author KeepHealth

DENVER (CBS4) ? It?s official ? this flu season is a record for Colorado.

As of last week, influenza has sent 3,550 people to the hospital in the state. That?s the highest number of flu hospitalizations in a single season for Colorado.
...

http://keephealthcare.org/flu-season-sets-2-records-for-colorado-cbs-denver.html

[Ronan Kelly]

Colorado influenza season has peaked; state on course for record hospitalizations
Peak numbers were last week of December, season not over yet

By KIERAN NICHOLSON | knicholson@denverpost.com | The Denver Post
PUBLISHED: February 15, 2018 at 6:00 am | UPDATED: February 15, 2018 at 3:56 pm

The influenza season in Colorado likely has peaked. But there?s still plenty of flu going around, and the state is on a record-setting pace.

Through Sunday, Feb. 10, the total number of Coloradans hospitalized with influenza this 2017-18 season is 3,306, according to the state Department of Public Health and Environment. The state record for influenza hospitalizations came in the 2014-15 season, with 3,397.

...
The death of one child, associated with influenza A, has been reported this season with an onset of illness during the the week ending Dec. 30.

Flu generally kills a few dozen people in Colorado each year. In 2016, the most recent year for which numbers are available, 54 people died of influenza, according to state data.
...

https://www.denverpost.com/2018/02/15/colorado-flu-season-2018-record-hospitalizations/

[JimO]

Larimer County investigating possible flu death

Child would be second person in Colorado to succumb to illness


By Pamela Johnson

Larimer County officials are investigating what might be the county's first flu death of the season, which would be the second in Colorado.

Public health officials track influenza deaths only for those 18 and younger, and Katie O'Donnell, spokeswoman for the Larimer County Health Department, said her agency was alerted Friday of a possible pediatric flu death.

The child, whose age and hometown have not been released, tested positive for the flu, but the Larimer County Coroner's Office is waiting for results on other tests to confirm that the virus caused the death.

[JimO]

I'm not sure if this is the same child reported in the second post.

Child dies from flu in El Paso County

EL PASO COUNTY (KKTV) - The deadly flu season continues, claiming the life of a child in El Paso County. The recent death marks the first flu-related death for a child in Colorado this season.

Director of Communications for the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment Mark Salley could not confirm specifics, including the age of the child who died but stated they consider a child anyone under the age of 18 years old. He confirmed the child was old enough to be vaccinated but was not.

[JimO]

Highlands Ranch mother urges people to get flu shot after losing daughter

HIGHLANDS RANCH, Colo. ? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is warning people to get an influenza shot after a bad start to the flu season.

In a telephone press conference on Wednesday, experts said the H3N2 strain is the most commonly reported strain this flu season both in Colorado and across the country.

This flu season started earlier than normal and has been more severe than previous years. There have been more than 2,000 hospitalizations in Colorado this season alone, which is more than double the norm. Many of the patients are elderly.

There have also been 95 reported outbreaks in Colorado, which is four times higher than the average. An outbreak is defined as multiple flu cases reported in nursing homes or assisted living facilities.

One baby also died from the flu last week. Dr. Larry Wolk from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment says that child was old enough to get the flu shot but had not been immunized.

It?s a tragedy Vira Cover knows all too well. Her toddler, Elizabeth, died in 2003 after contracting influenza. Elizabeth would have turned 16 on January 4. Instead, she?s a memory on her mother?s mantle.

[Ronan Kelly]

First flu death reported in Grand County as current flu season is ?one of the worst?
Sawyer D'Argonne
January 10, 2018

A particularly insidious flu strain has claimed its first victim in Grand County after a 72-year-old female resident of Granby passed away Monday from complications stemming from Influenza A, the Grand County Public Health Department confirmed on Wednesday.
...
https://www.skyhinews.com/news/first...-of-the-worst/