14-02-2025
Worst flu season in years has NH hospitals at peak capacity
Feb. 13—The worst flu season in years is gripping New Hampshire with hospitals reporting more people testing positive and some admitting more patients.
"Influenza A (flu) is at its highest level in 15 years nationally, but also locally," said Gabriela Andujar Vazquez, new hospital epidemiologist at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center.
"Hospitals, including those in the Dartmouth Health system, are at peak capacity, including ICUs, due to respiratory illnesses that are mostly caused by influenza," Andujar said in an email Thursday.
"Flu deaths appear to be topping COVID-19 deaths this year, for the first time since the start of the COVID 19 pandemic," which started in 2020, she said.
Flu deaths surpassing COVID-19 deaths is happening nationally, in New Hampshire and within the Dartmouth Health system, Andujar said.
New Hampshire was one of 10 states listed at the top of the "very high" scale for influenza, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
For the week ending Feb. 8, the Dartmouth Health system recorded about 325 positive test results for influenza compared to 50 positive results for the same week last year, according to Vazquez.
At Catholic Medical Center, the Manchester hospital had more than 300 patients test positive for influenza in January with 46 of them hospitalized. A year ago, 200 patients tested positive and 24 were hospitalized, according to Ashley Conley, vice president of quality.
"This influenza season appears more severe than last year. In the past few weeks, we have seen more patients test positive than this time last year and we have also seen more patients hospitalized with the flu," Conley said. "During the first two years of the COVID pandemic, we saw very few patients with influenza in the hospital."
Through Feb. 8, the state Department of Health and Human Services identified 23 influenza-related deaths among New Hampshire adults this flu season.
"This is lower than the 31 influenza-related deaths among adults reported at the same point last season," said Public Health Public Information Officer Maddie Miller.
"New Hampshire is experiencing high levels of flu activity," she said.
Emergency room
At CMC, "patients with influenza that come to the emergency room and are having trouble breathing, need IV medications or are unstable will be admitted for treatment and close monitoring," Conley said. "Often times, our high-risk patients, such as the elderly or those with an immunocompromised immune system will need to be admitted."
She said most people can manage their symptoms and recover at home. People can call their primary care provider or visit an urgent care center if they are unsure what to do. People with a medical emergency should go to the emergency room, Conley said.
Vaccinations
Andujar said the flu vaccine is estimated at between 40% and 60% effective this season compared to an estimated 42% last season.
"Influenza vaccination can be the difference between a mild illness and a hospital stay or intensive care unit if you are vaccinated but still get sick," said Andujar, who recommended getting a flu shot.
"Studies have shown that in vaccinated adults, it reduces the risk of hospitalization due to flu by 40%, risk of need for intensive care unit hospitalization by 26%, and risk of death from flu in adults by 31%, when compared to unvaccinated individuals," she said.
Avoiding the flu
"Clean your hands often, especially before eating or touching your face and get your flu shot," Conley said. "If you are high risk, wear a mask when around others. If you get sick, stay home, cover your cough and sneezes and wear a mask if you are around others."
