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Flu Cases On The Rise In Massachusetts, Connecticut

A flu shot being administered.
Lance McCord
/
Creative Commons / flickr.com/photos/mccord
A flu shot being administered.

Public Health officials in Massachusetts and Connecticut say flu activity is ramping up. 

According to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, there's been an increase in people going to the doctor with flu-like symptoms. Most have been coming down with the B strain of the flu.

"This year, the symptom pattern ranges more from just fatigue and a cough and congestion, like a sinus congestion," said Dr. Brian Sutton of Baystate Health Urgent Care in Westfield. "People come in and they say, 'I think I have a sinus infection', and it turns out it's influenza B."

Less active so far this year is influenza A, in which symptoms usually include a high fever, cough and body aches.

"You know that feeling: like you got hit by a ton of bricks," Sutton said. 

In Connecticut, health officials said there have been seven flu-related deaths so far this season, including two last week. And a report released Thursday showed a spike in flu-related activity. 

"Although the number of cases and the measurements of flu activity is very high, and higher than last year, fortunately, the number of flu-associated deaths and hospitalizations is a little bit lower, or similar to the findings from last year," said Dr. Alan Siniscalchi with the Connecticut Department of Public Health. 

Officials in both states said it's not too late to get the flu vaccine.

Adam joined NEPM as a freelance reporter and fill-in operations assistant during the summer of 2011. For more than 15 years, Adam has had a number stops throughout his broadcast career, including as a news reporter and anchor, sports host and play-by-play announcer as well as a producer and technician.
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