More than 900 Californians have died from the flu this season, including 15 children
More than 900 Californians (including 15 children) have succumbed to the flu this season, one of the worst trends in respiratory illness in years, according to a report released by the California Department of Public Health on Friday.
Most flu victims (701) have a history of over 64 years of age, which tracks the traditional idea that the disease disproportionately affects older people.
However, the number of children who died has attracted attention. Four children died of the flu in the week ending February 15, increasing seasonal childhood deaths by more than a third, the report said.
Regarding Covid-19, “We just think older people are sick,” said Dr. Peter Chin-hong, an infectious disease expert and professor of medicine at UC San Francisco. “We have to reset it with the flu. Because there is flu, it's not only very old, it's also very young. They're doing a very poor job.”
The 15 children who died of flu this season include four teenagers from San Diego. According to health officials, no teenager aged 14, 15, 16 and 17 received the flu vaccine.
“Our recent flu deaths are tragic as we enter a history of what is historically the flu season,” Dr. Ankita Kadakia, interim public health official in San Diego County, said in a statement this month. , worrying.”
According to Chin-hong, vaccination rates have declined, especially in children, where influenza and other diseases have declined.
Nationwide, during the 2020-21 season, about 58% of children between 6 months and 17 were vaccinated, down to about 45% as of late January this year.
“In the vaccine world, it's like falling off a cliff,” Chin-hong said.
California has similar trends: As of late January, 47.7% of children in California have already received flu, the lowest since at least the 2019-20 flu season. Last year, at this time, 53.7% of children were vaccinated with the flu.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that everyone who is 6 months or older gets a flu vaccine – ideally by the end of October, during the high-circulation winter months, protection of the disease can be improved.
Chin-hon said that now the flu that usually circulates two flu is H1N1, which is related to the swine flu strains causing the flu pandemic in 2009 and 2010 – and H3N2, “this is often notorious for the fact that it usually causes more serious illnesses. .”
Given how effective this flu season has proven to be, officials say those who have not yet received the vaccine should consider doing so.
Although flu activity is still high, it may be decreasing. The latest full data is the latest report from California public health officials showing that flu tests returned positive results in the state’s clinical outpost labs in the week ended February 15.
Despite this, the test positive rate reached 23.3%. Health officials said COVID-19 and RSV activity were lower, with 2.3% and 5% positive rates, respectively.
Chin-hong said it was not clear whether the downward trend would remain.
“I think it's too early,” he said, adding that more data points are needed.
Despite the spread of the virus throughout the year, the flu season in the United States usually peaks between December and February, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Even in a decline, Chin-hong said the virus is known for prolonging seasons for a long time. It can last until April and sometimes run later this year.
“This is not only the peak of our concerns,” Hong En said. “This is also the breadth of what is happening this year.”
According to Mercury News, about 500 people died last season, while 600 people died the previous year.
Chin-hong estimates he hasn't seen the death toll this season in a decade.
Rong-Gong Lin II, an employee of the era, contributed to the report.
