Dramatic increase in flu hospitalizations seen in Wisconsin

[tetano]

A big increase in the number of hospitalizations for patients suffering from the flu has prompted state health officials to strongly encourage residents to get their flu shots.

The virus that is causing the most problems is the A 2009 H1N1 virus, a bug that resulted in a worldwide pandemic in 2009.

The Department of Health Services said in a news release on Thursday that 565 flu-associated hospitalizations were reported in Wisconsin since Oct. 5, and three-quarters of those cases happened since Dec. 14.

Twenty-two percent of the patients were admitted to a hospital's intensive care unit, and nine percent of the patients, who were either young or middle-aged adults, had to be put on ventilation.

The latest statistical report on flu-related deaths didn't show any in Wisconsin through Dec. 14.

Read more: http://host.madison.com/news/local/h...#ixzz2pvOdyPBc

[tetano]

Re: Dramatic increase in flu hospitalizations seen in Wisconsin

Widespread Flu Sends Hundreds in Wisconsin to Hospitals

Wisconsin is in the midst of peak flu season, and this year, young and middle-aged adults are being hit hardest.




Throughout the state, about 850 people have been hospitalized and some deaths have been reported. It?s the highest rate of hospitalizations for younger people since the swine flu pandemic four years ago.

In 2009, the swine flu, or H1N1, spread worldwide and caused thousands of deaths before the pandemic was declared over in the summer of 2010

http://wuwm.com/post/widespread-flu-sends-hundreds-wisconsin-hospitals