A local woman is among the most recent influenza-related deaths in Kansas amid what is being called a persistent and tough flu season.

“This has been an extremely hard influenza season for our community and others across the state and country,” said LMH community relations director Janice Early-Weas. “Since flu season began last October, the LMH Lab has confirmed 169 influenza cases. We have had two infectious respiratory-related deaths.”

Krista L. Wagner, a 42-year-old Lawrence woman, died at Lawrence Memorial Hospital on Thursday where she was being treated for the flu. Wagner worked in the community relations department at St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center in Topeka. She is survived by a husband and three children.

Fourteen deaths have been directly attributed to the flu this season, Kansas Department of Health and Environment spokesman Joe Blubaugh said. Another 380 deaths were attributed directly to pneumonia, often a complication of the flu, and 717 deaths in Kansas had flu or pneumonia as a contributing factor.

Blubaugh pointed out, however, that flu deaths are not reported by hospitals and KDHE’s statistics are based on an analysis of death certificates. Those figures can be two to three weeks old.

“We don’t know yet how severe this season is,” he said. “What we do know is this (flu season) doesn’t seem to be mild.”

Last year, four deaths were attributed directly to the flu, with 1,709 Kansas deaths attributed in some way to influenza or pneumonia. The year before, 1,828 people died in Kansas either because of or linked to influenza or pneumonia.

“When you think of the flu, it’s such a general term,” Blubaugh said. “People don’t ever think to be concerned. Flu is dangerous.”

According for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 47 states are reporting widespread influenza activity as of the last week in February.

Dr. Natalie Griego, an emergency department physician at St. Francis, said the Topeka hospital’s emergency room has been busy. No deaths have been directly attributed to influenza, but it has been a contributing factor in some.

“What we have seen, though, is significant and severe dehydration, caused by influenza, and needing admission for a higher level of care,” Griego said.

Typically, when people come to the emergency room they’re treated for high fever and dehydration, Griego said; however, sometimes the influenza virus can lead to bigger problems.

“The problem is you’re so immuno-compromised, any other bacteria you’re exposed to make you prone to pick up a second or third illness,” Griego said. “Then sepsis sets in and your organs can fail. I think people really have no idea how severe the flu can be and how important it is to get the influenza vaccine.”

Griego said there’s absolutely no truth to the old wives’ tale that getting the flu shot can make you sick. She said getting the flu shot in October is the best thing someone can do to prepare for winter.

But now it’s too late because it takes four to six weeks for the vaccine to take hold. For now, the best thing people can do is to be vigilant if they think they have the flu and to stay home.