Number of flu fatalities in Delaware rises to 14

The death toll for the current flu season has risen yet again in Delaware, the Delaware Division of Public Health announced Friday.

In the last two weeks, three more Delawareans have passed away from complications related to influenza: a 53-year-old woman and an 88-year-old woman, both from New Castle County, and a 45-year-old Kent County man, health officials said. While the two women had underlying medical conditions, officials say that the man had no other reported conditions affecting his health.

"This is a reminder that even healthy people can get sick enough to miss work or school for a significant amount of time, be hospitalized or suffer the most serious consequences," Dr. Kara Odom Walker, secretary for the Department of Health and Social Services, said. "If you think you have the flu, limit your contact with others. Flu is easy to transmit and you can pass it on to your children, other family members, friends and co-workers long before you know you are ill."

Health officials say there have been 3,715 laboratory-confirmed cases of the flu in Delaware for the 2016-2017 as of March 25th. There have been 14 deaths total in Delaware from influenza this season. There were six fatalities last year, officials said.

For more information on flu prevention and treatment, visit the Delaware Department of Public Health's website.