Five adults in Maine died from the flu or related illnesses in the last week, bringing the number to 22 so far this season, compared to none at this time last year, according to data from the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
Two K-12 schools also have reported outbreaks this season, one each in Kennebec and Somerset counties, along with three hospitals in York, Androscoggin and Knox counties. Maine CDC does not identify the facilities.
Overall, 18 new outbreaks in institutional settings were reported in Maine last week.
Hardest hit are Maine nursing homes, with a total of 52 facilities reporting outbreaks this season.
Out of 1,749 Mainers so far with a positive lab diagnosis of influenza, a season total of 429 had been hospitalized as of last week, most them adults over 65. Last week alone, 91 hospitalizations were reported.
The County is pleased to feature content from our sister company, Bangor Daily News. To read the rest of “Flu season escalates in Maine, as deaths rise and outbreaks reach schools,” an article by contributing Bangor Daily News staff writer Meg Haskell, please follow this link to the BDN online.
