El Paso Children’s Hospital: Flu cases increase, but situation is manageable

Flu outbreaks continue to increase across Texas and most states, leading to more than 100 deaths, according to the Centers For Disease Control And Prevention.

In El Paso Thursday, health officials announced two flu-related deaths. The two men who died, in their 90s, had received flu vaccines but also had underlying medical conditions, the health department said.

A spokesperson with the El Paso Children’s Hospital told ABC-7 the hospital has experienced an increase in flu cases.

“At this point, the situation in El Paso continues to be manageable and not as dire as other cities have seen,” the spokesperson said.

In October, 109 patients were swabbed and three tested positive. In November, 122 Patients were swabbed and nine positive. In December, 401 Patients were swabbed and 119 tested positive.

This flu season alone, San Diego County in California has reported 142 flu-related deaths – 51 this past week.

Children are among the high-risk groups for infection.

The CDC reported seven children have recently died because of the flu, brining the total pediatric deaths to 20.

In Texas, 11 different school districts have closed due to flue concerns, as each had more than 20 percent of students absent.

The recent outbreak comes a century after the 1918 flu pandemic that killed tens of millions of people across the world.

Three more flu pandemics have struck since, in 1957, 1968 and 2009, spreading widely but not as deadly.

Research shows a family tree, each subsequent pandemic a result of flu viruses carried by birds or pigs mixing with 1918 flu genes.

Infection typically starts through the nose, throat and lungs, according to the CDC, which can trigger a cough or sore throat.

As your body starts to fight the influenza virus, fever can start to impact the body, and muscle or body aches can occur.

The virus spreads by coming into contact with infectious secretions or contaminated surfaces, such as an infected person coughing near you.

For most people the sickness normally lasts less than two weeks.

Medical professionals recommend staying home, and avoiding contact with other people.

Despite the increase in flu-related deaths, the CDC reports the overall hospitalization rate this week is lower than the 2014-2015 season.

The CDC continues to recommend influenza vaccination for all persons six months of age and older as flu viruses are likely to continue circulating for weeks.