Sussex County child, 5, is first child to contract flu this season

A Sussex County child, 5, is the first diagnosed with the flu this season, state officials say.

The child’s flu brings the total of lab-confirmed flu cases for the 2018-19 season to six for the week ending Oct. 5, said Jen Brestel, spokeswoman for the Delaware Division of Public Health.

The other cases include two New Castle County residents: a 40-year-old male and a 26-year-old female; and three Kent County residents: a 72-year-old female, and 70-year-old and 44-year-old males. There are two main types of influenza virus - A and B - that spread in people and are responsible for seasonal flu outbreaks each year. So far this year, she said, five cases of the flu deaths were caused by type A, and the pediatric case was type B.

DPH urges all Delawareans 6 months of age and older to get vaccinated soon if they have not yet done so. The flu is easy to transmit and people can get it even from seemingly healthy, but unvaccinated, children and adults. Since it takes about two weeks after vaccination for antibodies to develop in the body that protect against influenza virus infection, it is important to get the flu shot as early as possible to give the body time to build immunity. The season began Sept. 30, and there have already been 12 laboratory-confirmed cases reported. The cases, which occurred statewide, included five pediatric cases and one hospitalization, she said. 

During the 2017-18 flu season, Delaware recorded 9,051 flu cases, the highest number of laboratory-confirmed flu cases since record-keeping began in 2005. Over 1,200 people were hospitalized due to the flu and 35 people died from flu complications.

“Now is the time to get your flu vaccine,” said DPH Director Dr. Karyl Rattay. “Vaccinations not only prevent people from getting the flu, but they can reduce the severity of flu illness and prevent visits to the doctor, clinic, emergency room, hospitalizations, and serious consequences (including death) from influenza. While the vaccine is recommended for people of all age groups, children are part of a group of individuals who are particularly susceptible to complications from flu illness, and so ensuring they are vaccinated is vitally important.” Rattay said vaccinated people have less chance of missing family, school and work events due to influenza illness.

Flu vaccines are offered through physician offices, many pharmacies and some grocery stores. While not all physicians’ offices may have their vaccine supply in yet, people can just Google “CDC flu finder” and enter a ZIP code. DPH will also offer various other flu clinics throughout the season. A schedule can be found at https://dhss.delaware.gov/dhss/dph/fluclinics.html.

In addition to getting the flu vaccine, Delawareans can prevent the spread of the flu and other respiratory illness with good hygiene. Wash hands often with soap and water or use alcohol-based hand sanitizers with 60 percent alcohol. Cover coughs and sneezes with tissues and dispose of tissues immediately. If a tissue is not available, cough or sneeze into the inner elbow since droplets from a sneeze can travel up to 6 feet. Stay 6 feet away from others who are coughing or sneezing, and avoid touching the eyes, nose or mouth.

Flu symptoms come on suddenly, and include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, headaches and body aches, chills, and fatigue. Some people get complications including pneumonia, bronchitis, and sinus and ear infections. Those sick with the flu should stay home from work, school, and other gatherings and not return until they have been free of fever - with temperature less than 100◦ F, without the use of fever-reducing medications for at least 24 hours.

Those ill with the flu should avoid close contact with well people in the household, drink plenty of water and other clear liquids and treat fever and cough with over-the-counter medicines. Those who are very sick, pregnant or have a medical condition like asthma should call their doctors for antiviral medicines to make the illness milder, hasten recovery, and prevent serious complications, hospitalizations and even death.

For more information about the flu, visit flu.delaware.gov or https://www.cdc.gov/flu/index.htm.

Editor’s note: This story has been update to reflect that the child did not die.