This year’s deadly flu season continues to claim lives across the country and it has set records in Central Florida.
A doctor with Centra Care said the staff treated a never-before-seen number of patients in the Orlando area.
Doctors treated 874 people last week compared with 587 patients the week before, officials said.
The previous record--842 patients in one week--was set in 2015, officials said.
One child recently has died from complications of the flu, state health officials said. The child was not vaccinated and had underlying health conditions, they said.
Flu is not a required reportable disease, so a spokesperson for the state said the numbers are tracked through monitoring reports of influenza-like illnesses, flu testing and hospital admissions for flu.
Flu activity is on the rise throughout the United States and in Florida.
Health officials are required to report any deaths of patients under the 18 who die of flu complications.
Health officials said that though the flu vaccine is not 100 percent effective, it’s still the best prevention method, particularly for people at high risk.
“Especially children under 5 years old, pregnant women, people 65 and older, and (those) with chronic conditions such as asthma,” said Mirna Chamorro of the Seminole County Health Department.
Cox Media Group
