Flu activity in NoVA went from “high” to “very high” in the week before Christmas and rose across the state, according to the Virginia Department of Health flu tracker. At the same time, the state reported the season’s first influenza-associated pediatric death.
The weekly tracker showed cases in the Southwest, Central, and Northwest regions all reporting high numbers of flu cases, while the Eastern region was the only one to report a moderate number of flu cases. The Northwest region includes Stafford County and Fredericksburg in the Rappahannock Health District and Fauquier County in the Rappahannock/Rapidan Health District.
This compares to the week of Thanksgiving when the Northern region, where most of NoVA is located, was the only one to have a high number of cases.
Lisa Sollot, VDH’s respiratory diseases coordinator, had said she expected flu activity to increase as people traveled and gathered for the holidays.
The health department said the flu season is in a “typical range of severity. However, even typical seasons vary widely and result in illness, hospitalizations, and death.”
The state investigated seven influenza outbreaks the week of December 23. In total, the department this season has looked into 26 outbreaks, with reports of 483 pneumonia, flu, and/or COVID-19–related deaths.
Statewide, lab reports confirmed 2,646 positive cases of flu during the week ending December 23.
Across the state, 6.9 percent of the patients who came to emergency rooms and urgent care centers had influenza, according to the data reported through December 23.
The health department said the largest proportion of ER and urgent care visits — 14.7 percent — involved children who are 4 years old and younger. Flu-like illnesses were reported in 13.2 percent of school-aged children.
Child Dies of Flu-Like Illness
News of the rising number of flu cases comes as Virginia reports this season’s first influenza-associated pediatric death. The only information the state is able to release about the death is that the child was between the ages of 5 and 12 and lived in the Eastern region, a wide area that includes 26 localities, including the Eastern Shore, Chesapeake, Hampton, Norfolk, and Virginia Beach.
“We at the Virginia Department of Health, are broken hearted and extend our sympathies to the family of this child during this difficult time,” said State Health Commissioner Dr. Karen Shelton, in a news release.
“Even though the flu is common, it can cause serious illness and even death. I urge everyone who is eligible to receive the flu vaccine to do so not only to protect themselves, but to protect those around them.”
Last flu season, five children died.
Just 27 percent of Virginia children have received a flu vaccine this season, the department said. Influenza vaccinations are available for anyone who is at least 6 months old.
Feature image, stock.adobe.com
For more stories like this, subscribe to Northern Virginia Magazine’s News newsletter.
