a young Boston, Massachusettsthe woman died of flu despite having no underlying health conditions, it was what doctors called a “one in a million” case.
Price Merepol McMahon, 36, of Wellesley, Massachusetts, just outside of Boston, died of the flu last Tuesday. Only two days earlier she was feeling fine – before her condition deteriorated rapidly on Monday.
The flu is most dangerous for young children and the elderly, with those in between being relatively safe if they have no underlying health conditions.
The annual virus has re-emerged this year after lying dormant for much of the Covid pandemic. Experts have described this flu season as the worst since the 2009 swine flu pandemic.
Recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that America’s year-end ‘tripledemic’ of influenza, Covid and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) could end soon.
Price Merepol McMahon (left), 36, of Wellesley, Massachusetts, died of the flu on December 20. She was a healthy woman with no underlying ailments, and was even training for a marathon. Doctors describe his case as ‘one in a million’
“She was always incredibly smart, hard-working, driven, she was the one everyone knew would be successful,” said Price’s brother Ian Meropol. boston globe.
Mrs. McMahon was in good shape and led a very active life. Her family told the Globe that she had played tennis, skied and even completed the New York City Marathon.
The woman, who previously worked as an executive at American Express and Burberry, was even training to run the Boston Marathon in April.
She spent Sunday, December 18 at her parents’ house, where the family had gathered to witness Argentina’s triumph in the 2022 World Cup final and celebrate Hanukkah.
On Monday, December 19, she began to feel unwell in the evening. Her condition rapidly worsened and she died on Tuesday afternoon.
“The words of the doctor, I will always remember, this is one in a million flu cases,” Mr Meropol said.
Flu cases fell for the second straight week in the CDC’s latest report, with 33,041 confirmed infections. That’s a 26% drop from previous weeks.
It’s unclear what complications led to Ms McMahon’s death, or if there were any unique factors to her infection that caused the rare death.
The CDC reports that up to 35,000 Americans die from the flu each year – although the Covid pandemic has sent the numbers skyrocketing in recent years.
A large majority of these cases involve people over the age of 65 or under the age of five.
Other people with conditions such as diabetes, heart disease or asthma are also at increased risk, but serious complications from the flu are rare.
This flu season has been unusually brutal in the United States. Experts warn that two years of Covid-related mask orders and social isolation have weakened the immune systems of many and made the population more susceptible to these viruses.
Still, dying from the flu is a rarity for a 36-year-old man with cardiovascular health good enough to complete marathons.
According to the most recent data available from the CDC, the US flu epidemic may finally be over soon.
The agency confirmed 33,041 infections in the week ending Dec. 17, a 26% week-over-week drop and the second straight week that cases have declined.
Still, the outbreak has left hospitals reeling. Tamiflu, the main drug used by hospitals to treat the flu, is hard to find in some parts of the country.
Although the Food and Drug Administration does not officially consider the drug a nationwide shortage, regional shortages have forced HHS to intervene.
The main US health agency announced last week that it would make the additional supply of Tamiflu available to hospitals from the nation’s national stockpile.
This stockpile is a collection of medicines stored by the government in case of a national emergency.
“Today, we are taking action so that every jurisdiction can meet the increased demand for Tamiflu this flu season,” Dr. Xavier Becerra, HHS Secretary, said in a statement.
“State stockpiles can be used, and if jurisdictions need access to the national stockpile, they now have it to respond to the current strategic seasonal influenza outbreak.”
At one point this month, 80% of hospital beds in the United States were occupied – a point higher than at any time during the Covid pandemic. Just over 70% of US hospital beds are currently occupied.
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