The uptick in influenza cases is an unwelcome change from last year’s season, which was mild because of masking and distancing.
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Silver lining of pandemic: No flu deaths and only 3 hospitalizations this season
By this time last year, Maine had recorded 36 deaths and 494 hospitalizations. Experts say COVID-19 safety measures and an aggressive flu vaccine push last fall likely caused the precipitous drop.
Maine flu cases plummet
Maine had more than 900 confirmed flu cases by this time last year. So far this season there are 47.
Flu shot requirement for Maine health care workers meets resistance from some nurses
The rule proposed by the Maine CDC could pave the way for COVID-19 vaccine requirements for health care workers in an emergency.
Sanford superintendent says flu vaccine provider failed to check for parents’ signature
Matt Nelson says three students got shots without their parents’ consent because the provider didn’t notice that the permission forms hadn’t been signed or the signature had been crossed out.
High demand for flu shots? Experts hope to avoid ‘twindemic’
A record number of flu vaccine doses are on the way, between 194 million and 198 million for the U.S. alone.
Maine reports first flu-related death of child in 2019-20 season
The child was younger than 5 and had not been vaccinated.
Amid coronavirus fears, a second wave of flu hits U.S. children
The viruses behind both waves can be hard on children and young adults, and child deaths and hospitalizations are at the highest rate since the severe outbreak of 2009-2010.
Maine flu cases shot up 24% in first week of February
Nearly 1,000 new cases were confirmed in the week ending Feb. 8, the most in a single week since this flu season began in October, with York County hit especially hard.
Flu season ramps up in Maine, hitting some schools hard
A school in Standish and another in Sanford closed Monday, with 3,020 influenza cases reported so far this season across Maine.