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First flu-related death recorded in Travis Co. as cases spike

Dr. Phillip Huang told KVUE on Tuesday that Travis County has experienced its first death of 2019 due to a flu-related illness while in the midst of a spike of flu cases.

TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas — Travis County has experienced its first flu-related death of 2019, according to Dr. Phillip Huang, Medical Director and Health Authority for Austin Public Health. 

Huang told KVUE the case was not a pediatric death, but rather an adult. This news comes as the levels of influenza-like activity were high for the week of Jan. 14 in the Lone Star State, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

According to CDC, influenza activity remained elevated in the U.S, most of the country is reporting widespread geographic influenza. Influenza A (H1N1), influenza A (H3N2), and influenza B viruses continue to co-circulate.

RELATED: Flu-like activity high and widespread across Texas for first time in 2019

Credit: CDC

In Travis County, specifically, Huang told KVUE they started seeing an uptick of positive flu cases toward the end of December 2018 and continued to see that spike in the opening weeks of January 2019

Credit: Austin Public Health
Travis County Flu case numbers from Austin Public Health as of Jan. 18, 2019.

Statistics show flu activity increased from the first week of January to the second week and as of January 18, the A virus strain was the most commonly detected.

Huang said it is not too late to get the flu vaccine and encourages the public to take preventative measures such as getting your flu shot and washing your hands thoroughly.

For more information on confirmed flu cases in Travis County, visit the flu report here.

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