Montgomery County announces death of two seniors from flu, COVID co-infections

Crissa Shoemaker DeBree, Bucks County Courier Times
·2 min read

Two senior citizens from Montgomery County who had been hospitalized with both COVID-19 and the flu have died, the county's Office of Public Health announced Wednesday.

The patients were ages 77 and 89, the county said. No other information was provided.

Health experts have warned of "flurona" as flu and COVID cases have risen. Co-infections of flu and COVID or other viruses can happen, and together can increase symptoms and mortality rate, health officials said.

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Earlier this month, state health officials urged residents to get vaccinated against the flu, as well as COVID.

“It is not too late to get your flu vaccine if you have not already done so,” Deputy Secretary of Health Preparedness and Community Protection Ray Barishansky said during a meeting in Norristown.

“We know that people who get the flu after being vaccinated have less severe symptoms and are not sick for as long as those who do not get vaccinated. We also know that the COVID-19 vaccines do not protect you from getting the flu. So, while we have been encouraging everyone to get COVID-19 vaccines, you still also need to get your flu vaccine.”

The number of influenza cases are on the rise after falling drastically in the past year due to COVID mitigation measures in place during much of the flu season.

A total of 30,106 flu cases have been reported across Pennsylvania as of Saturday, the most recent data available. Twenty-three people have died.

Montgomery County reported a total of 1,359 cases of flu as of Saturday, with 23 people hospitalized.

Both COVID-19 and flu are transmitted through close contact and respiratory droplets. Many symptoms overlap: fever, runny nose, sore throat, coughing and general fatigue. Experts say the only symptom that may distinguish a nasty cold from COVID-19 is the loss of taste or smell.

“Flu activity was low last year, so co-infections were relatively rare," said Christina Miller, administrator for the Montgomery County Office of Public Health. "We are still in the first half of flu season now, and there is still time to benefit from flu vaccination this season.

“To be fully protected, we encourage everyone to get vaccinated for both COVID-19 and the flu.”

Montgomery County is offering free flu vaccines at its county-run vaccination clinics, and residents can get both their COVID vaccines or boosters at the same time they receive a flu shot. Visit montcopa.org/Flu or call 610-278-5117.

This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Montgomery County announces deaths from flu, COVID co-infections