According to the latest reports from the Pennsylvania health department, last week a slight decline has been seen in flu cases in hospitals and emergency departments.
Prior to 3,000 flu cases which was reported before last week, 2,800 cases were reported in the last week.
The week-to-week flu numbers are subject to change as more cases are confirmed throughout the reporting season.That means last week\'s total could still eclipse the previous week\'s if more positive tests are confirmed.
From October 2nd to January 14th there have been 10,766 reported cases in the state. The Berks County reportedly had 735 confirmed flu cases in that time.
In the Montgomery County 429 positive flu cases were reported from the time reporting of flu cases got started, Lehigh County had 472 cases, Chester County had 241, Lancaster county had 286, Schuylkill had 120 and Lebanon had 56 flu cases.
The flu still remains widely spread in the state and it has been confirmed that at least half of the state area has been effected.
Till now there have been 14 deaths due to the Flu in the state since the reporting was begun and 12 of those dead people were 65 or older.
According to the weekly flu report, only a fraction of the people reports about the flu, whereas most of them do not get tested for the virus. The Health Department has estimated that 5 % to 20 % residents in Pennsylvania gets the flu each year and around 120 to 2,000 people die from flu related complications.
The health officials have asked people that they should get a flu shot and stay at home when they get sick, use proper coughing and sneezing etiquettes. Keeping these measure in mind along with washing hands thoroughly a person can help to prevent the spread of the virus.
Dr. Charles F. Barbera, chairman of the emergency medicine department for the Reading Health System said that while the reported numbers are changing from week to week, it was early to confirm if the peak season of the flu has come or gone.
He also said that they have seen times when they thought the peak season was over, but it was not, especially when the flu comes as an early as it has.
AMandeep
