HARTFORD -- State officials said 11 more people died from flu related causes in the period up to February 3, bringing the season's total to 63.
The Department of Public Health said the following in a press release Thursday:
A total of 1,360 patients have been hospitalized with confirmed cases of flu between August 27, 2017 and February 3, 2018. 63 deaths have been attributed to the flu (50 associated with flu A, 13 with flu B) so far this season. Of these deaths, 52 were among patients over the age of 65, 6 were 50-64 years of age, 3 were 25-49 years of age, 1 was between 19-24 years of age, and 1 was between 5-17 years of age. A total of 3,895 influenza positive laboratory tests have been reported so far this season.
Last week, state officials said 52 people had died so far since the end of August.
According to the update from the DPH, emergency department visits have increased to more than 14-percent, which is the highest weekly level in nine years.
So far, a total of 3,895 flu cases have been reported this season, according to health officials.
The North Central District Health Department held a flu clinic, Thursday. Director of Health Patrice Sulik said a lot of people showed up for a first-time flu shot.
"Most of our flu clinics have been in October and November but this year there’s been such a high incidence of illness and some pretty serious outcomes so I think it's on people's mind more," she said.
Sulik stressed that it is not too late to get the flu shot, as it takes a couple of weeks to get the full level of protection and more cases are expected to pop-up in the coming weeks.
At the clinic, she said children were offered free vaccines from the West Hartford/Bloomfield Health District.
The DPH said local health departments will be hosting low/no-cost flu vaccine clinics, Saturday.