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Flu season subsiding across Pa. But Lancaster County sees its 8th flu-related death
BY PAULA WOLF, Staff Writer
Even as influenza activity across the country subsides, one more person has died from flu-related causes in Lancaster County.
The brings the number of fatalities this season to eight.
In its weekly report Tuesday, the Pennsylvania Department of Health reported that while 21 more people perished from the flu statewide Jan. 27 to Feb. 2, the number of new cases that week was 1,974, barely half of the previous week's total of 3,683.
Hospitalizations across the state also were down, from 486 to 177.
To date, 123 deaths in Pennsylvania can be traced to the flu; 87 percent of the victims were 65 or older. According to the state Department of Health, the total number of cases this flu season is 30,286.
In Lancaster County, the number of infections is now 1,427. The only counties with more are Allegheny, 2,475, and Lehigh, 2,320.
Four other counties also have at least 1,000 confirmed flu cases: Montgomery, 1,340; Northampton, 1,234; Philadelphia, 1,069; and Westmoreland, 1,031.
pwolf@lnpnews.com
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