CLEVELAND, Ohio -
The Cuyahoga County Public Health Collaborative reports six additional flu-related deaths in the county this week. That brings the total number of flu related deaths this season to eleven.
The recent victims were men aged 95, 73, 53 and 58, and women aged 52 and 103, according to the Cuyahoga County Board of Health.
Kevin Brennan is the communications manager for the Cuyahoga County Board of Health and says the elderly likely died from complications related to the flu such as pneumonia. He suggests seniors consult with their doctors about getting a pneumonia shot.
In the week of Jan 14-20m there were 68 confirmed cases of flu-related hospitalizations reported, down from 221 cases for the second week in January, and 288 cases in the beginning of the month.
Pneumonia cases and emergency room visits due to influenza-like illness are trending higher than the 5-year median, the collaborative reported Thursday. The collaborative includes the Cuyahoga County Board of Health and the Cleveland Department of Public Health.
Lake County has recorded three deaths related to the flu this season, according to the Lake County General Health District. The ages and genders of the victims were not immediately available.
Brennan says it's not too late to get a flu shot. There is usually a second wave of flu in late February-March.