Flu Is Becoming Widespread Throughout Md., US

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Flu epidemic. The CDC released new numbers Monday showing the flu is widespread in most of the country, including here in Maryland---and doctors say this strain can be more dangerous.

Meghan McCorkell has more on how local hospitals are handling a surge of cases.

Hospitals in Maryland say they have been slammed with flu patients since Christmas.

The flu turned deadly in the United States with 21 children dying this season. One of the latest was seven-year-old Ruby Hanson, whose parents say she may have survived if it weren't for a pre-existing condition.

"She had a seizure that was caused by the flu," said Debra Hanson, her mother.

The CDC now reports 43 states, including Maryland, are experiencing high or widespread flu activity. Much of that is the H3N2 strain of Influenza A.

"We do know that in years where this virus circulates, or this type of virus circulates, we do get more deaths on average than the usual year," said Dr. Joseph Cresee, Centers for Disease Control.

Emergency rooms across the state are now reporting thousands of patients coming in with flu-like symptoms every week.

"This is one of the busier flu years," said Dr. Lisa Kirkland, Sinai Hospital.

Dr. Kirkland says some of the patients she is seeing thought they were protected because they got a flu shot.

"This year, the flu strain mutated a little bit and there is one component of the flu strain that is causing the flu in people who actually did get the shot," she said.

Several local hospitals are now limiting visitors to try and stop the spread of the flu. At the University of Maryland Medical Center, no visitors under the age of 18 will be allowed in the hospital, only two adult visitors can see a patient at one time and visitors experiencing flu symptoms are not permitted.

Flu season normally lasts through February and March.

Experts say they are expecting another surge in flu cases later in the season.

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