News

Allegheny County has highest flu cases across Pennsylvania

PITTSBURGH — Allegheny County has more cases of the flu than any other part of Pennsylvania, with nearly twice as many cases than the next highest total in Burks County.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health totals show more than 20,000 documented flu cases statewide since October. More than 2,200 of those are from Allegheny County, making it about 11 percent of the state total.

"Even though we didn't have a high number of cases last year, we tended to have much sicker folks," Dr. Thomas Campbell, who works in Allegheny General Hospital’s emergency room, said.

Campbell said he saw flu spike two weeks ago, but the number of patients with the flu have since dropped.

Dawnque Spencer of East Liberty, said she’s been battling a sore throat, cough and runny nose, but has not seen a doctor and worries it may be the flu.

"It's kind of frustrating because I want to do stuff, and I don't want to pass it to my kids. I've been trying to keep them away and staying in the house. I didn't even go to work last week," Spencer said.

Allegheny County Health Department officials said there is no reason as to why the county is seeing higher flu numbers, but say the flu shot is proving to be very effective against this particular strain.