BALTIMORE (WUSA) -- Testing has confirmed that all four members of a Calvert County family, three of whom have died, had the H3N2 strain of influenza A.
The Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene says the DHMH Laboratories Administration confirmed that all four cases had the H3N2 strain of influenza A through testing. It says H3N2 is one of the influenza strains circulating in Maryland and nationwide right now.
DHMH said in a press release on Friday: "At least two of these cases were complicated by bacterial co-infections with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Staphylococcus aureus co-infection is a known complication of influenza infection."
It added that this season's flu vaccine offers protection against influenza A H3N2 as well as influenza H1N1 and influenza B. DHMH recommends people over the age of six months get the vaccine and that everyone take precautionary measures to prevent spreading the flu.
DHMH and the Calvert County Health Department continue to investigate the family's case. It says there are "no additional related severe respiratory illnesses have been confirmed and no other similar clusters have been identified."