Three Flu-related Deaths Reported in Tarrant County

Three adults in Tarrant County have died from the flu, according to reports given to Tarrant County Public Health late Tuesday.Each of the deaths involved people 55 and older with previous medical conditions. Their names and ages were not released.Adult flu deaths are not required to be reported to local health departments.Tarrant County chief epidemiologist Russ Jones said Tuesday that adult deaths the health department learns about are likely an underestimation of the severity of the flu outbreak, because those reports are not required."It's safe to say that we are currently experiencing a flu outbreak and these three voluntarily reported flu-related deaths reflect that," Jones said.Twelve long-term care facilities in Tarrant County have had outbreaks of the flu, Jones said earlier this week.Tarrant County has seen no pediatric flu deaths this season. Across Texas, there was one such death in November, the only one that has occurred this season.Jones said this flu season mirrors that of 2013-2014. There were 58 deaths recorded in Dallas County that season -- 55 adults and three children.This season, Dallas County has recorded 18 adult flu deaths so far. During the last flu season, there were 17 total.   Continue reading...