COLDWATER,MI (WTVB) – Director of Personal Health and Disease Prevention Kali Nichols reported to the Community Health Agency Board of Health on Thursday that influenza is now widespread meaning that outbreaks of cases are present in at least half of the regions in the state of Michigan.
Statistics from the C.H.A. show there have been 40 cases of influenza reported during the 2019-2020 flu season through the end of December in Branch, Hillsdale and St. Joseph Counties compared to just 14 in the three counties during the same period a year ago.
There were 11 cases reported in Branch County during December compared to just two in December of 2018.
The number of people with a flu like disease were about the same as last year. There have been 1,327 cases this year compared with 1,343 cases in 2018-2019.
Colds without fever has shown a sharp increase from 1,508 last year to 1,878 this year.
There have been two influenza-associated pediatric deaths during the 2019-2020 influenza season in Michigan. They were from Shiawassee and Wayne counties, both children were infected with influenza B. The last time that influenza B was dominant over influenza A in the flu season was in the 1990’s.
The Community Health Agency is reminding you that it is not too late to get your flu shot for this season. Immunization clinics are held in Coldwater on Mondays. Call (517) 279-9561 extension 100 for more information.
