A mother-of-two, 38, has died from the flu while a 12-year-old boy has been taken off life support after battling the deadly virus.
Heather Holland, of Weatherford, Texas, fell ill last Monday and was diagnosed with the flu on Wednesday where she was prescribed Tamiflu.
However, the second grade teacher thought it ‘cost too much’ according to her husband Frank, who eventually bought his wife the medication on Thursday when her symptoms did not ease up.
By the weekend, Heather’s body had gone into septic shock, killing her on Sunday.
That same day in Alabama, Aaron Masterson, 12, was declared brain dead and taken off of life support after cystic fibrosis made his flu diagnosis deadly.
Aaron died that night, making him one of more than 53 children to be killed by the flu this season, while Heather is one of the 20 reported deaths in the Dallas Fort Worth area this record-breaking flu season.
Mother-of-two Heather Holland, 38, (left) and Aaron Masterson, 12, (right) were killed by the flu over the weekend
Heather was a second grade teacher in Texas and fell ill last week but refused to take prescription Tamiflu because it ‘cost too much’, according to her husband Frank (pictured)
Aaron, from Huntsville, Alabama, also suffered from cystic fibrosis, a genetic disorder that damages the lungs and restricts the ability to breathe, making his flu diagnosis even worse
This flu season is on track to becoming one of the worst in recent history, according to the CDC.
Aaron, a middle-schooler from Huntsville, Alabama, also suffered from cystic fibrosis, a genetic disorder that damages the lungs and restricts the ability to breathe.
His pre-existing condition weakened his immune system, making his flu diagnosis far more severe and causing him to suffer brain damage.
He tested positive for influenza B, a less common strain of the flu.
The dominant H3N2 strain, dubbed the ‘Aussie flu’, has been wreaking havoc this year and the flu vaccine is only 34 percent effective against this particular strain.
However, CDC officials are urging everyone to get their flu shot and say it is not too late as the vaccine is even more effective against the H1N1 and B viruses, which killed Aaron.
It is unclear if either Heather or Aaron received their flu shot this season.
This year’s flu is set to becoming one of the worst in recent history and already has the highest rate of hospitalizations than any other year.
On Friday, Dr Dan Jernigan, director of the CDC’s Influenza Division, said that this is an unusual pattern for the flu as health officials expected activity to have already reached its peak at this time – but it continues to get worse.
The virus is widespread in 48 states, including Texas and Alabama, after Oregon dropped down to regional level to join Hawaii.
Health officials are warning everyone to take extra precaution to prevent the spread of the flu by washing your hands regularly and avoiding contact with everyone.
People can harbor the flu virus whether they look ill or not, therefore doctors urge everyone to be vigilant.
‘Supporting one’s immune system with good rest and adequate hydration may help reduce the severity of symptoms,’ Dr Brian Secemsky, an internist at One Medical in San Francisco, told Daily Mail Online.
‘Washing hands often, wearing masks, and staying home from work during periods of fever can help reduce the transmission of the virus,’ he added.