Widespread Flu Epidemic Hits New England

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released their latest report and the numbers show a sharp rise of influenza cases across 48 states including Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts.

New Hampshire reported that 12 adults died from the influenza this flu season. Some towns in Mass. are running out of the the flu vaccine. The hospitals have reported close to 100 influenza cases.

In Maine, especially Aroostook county, hospitals had to cancel non essential emergency surgeries so staff can deal with the overwhelming number of influenza cases.

‘We’ve seen an increasing number of individuals presenting with influenza and flu-like symptoms, and as a result, our Emergency Department and the inpatient units in our hospital have been very busy,’ said Sylvia Getman, TAMC President & CEO. ‘Over the weekend and into the start of the new week, we instituted measures to ensure that we meet the needs of our patients over the next several days.’

On average local hospitals have seen between 50 to 60 influenza cases. According to the CDC the influenza numbers are up by 10 percent since last year in Maine alone. Local hospitals face shortage of available beds to admit patients who need overnight observation.

‘We kept our eye on bed availability throughout Aroostook County and the state all weekend, particularly on Friday night. Volume is high everywhere, and thankfully, we were able to find beds for the majority of our patients in our own hospital,’ said Daryl Boucher, TAMC director of emergency services.

See the map of New England state by state influenza cases reported:

View Flu Season in a larger map