All nine deaths at Barnes-Jewish Hospital involved people in their mid-20s to mid-60s, hospital officials said Friday. That's unusual because flu deaths are more typical among the very young and the very old. Another 35 patients were sick enough to be treated in the Barnes-Jewish intensive care unit.
Officially, Missouri has reported more than 6,700 confirmed flu cases this season. Most cases in Missouri involve the H1N1, or swine flu, strain. The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services lumps influenza and pneumonia deaths together so the number of statewide flu deaths wasn't known.
Dr. Steven Lawrence, an infectious disease specialist at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, said it isn't too late to get vaccinated.
"Most of the influenza patients we've seen who are sick enough to be hospitalized did not get vaccinated," Lawrence said in a statement. "The vaccine is very effective against H1N1 flu, particularly in the younger and middle-aged patients hit hardest by this strain."
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday that flu illnesses are widespread in at least 35 states. Flu usually peaks in January or February.
(ALSO)
12 people died of the flu at one Florida hospital since October
Twelve people have died from the flu at Shands Hospital at the University of Florida since October, UF reported Thursday.
The report noted 11 of the victims, all from around North Central Florida, did not get a flu vaccine.
According to the Shands report, this year's H1N1 strain of the virus -- the same type of strain as the so-called "swine flu" that caused a pandemic in 2009 -- is affecting a group that typically pays less attention to the flu: People under 40 years old.
Of the 12 people who died at Shands, five were under 40. State health officials said this year's flu shot supply does cover the H1N1 strain.
In nearby Marion County, where flu-like illnesses have increased steadily at emergency rooms and urgent care clinics in the last three weeks, the report spread almost as quickly as the virus, itself.
Flu cases reported in Marion County shot up from 34 to 69 in the week between Christmas and New Year's Day, putting Marion among the top five Florida counties reporting the highest number of flu cases.
"It's scary, but they should have gotten a flu shot," said Claudia Boss, of Marion County, regarding the 11 victims at Shands who did not get the vaccine this year.
Still, many in Florida remain divided in their trust of the flu shot.
"I never get the flu shot," said Daniel Boyd, of Marion County.
"I'm young. I don't really worry about it too much," said Jim Cooke, of Marion County. "Just roll with the punches. You know?"
Hospitals are not required to report how many people have died from the flu, so we don't know how many flu-related deaths there may have been in Marion County this year.
The state of Florida does compile statistics on influenza-related deaths. Last week alone, 177 people died statewide.
"People die from the flu every year, and it's unfortunate," said Craig Ackerman, with the Florida Department of Health in Marion County. "That's why we try to press people to get the vaccine and practice good hygiene."
A recent flu outbreak has also killed one woman in Brevard County and put three other people on life support, including a pregnant mother in her 30s.
Deuteronomy 28:60 Moreover he will bring upon thee all the diseases of Egypt, which thou wast afraid of; and they shall cleave unto thee.
Deuteronomy 28:59 Then the Lord will make thy plagues wonderful, and the plagues of thy seed, even great plagues, and of long continuance, and sore sicknesses, and of long continuance.
Deuteronomy 28:61 Also every sickness, and every plague, which is not written in the book of this law, them will the Lord bring upon thee, until thou be destroyed.
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