Flu Deaths Peak In California As Coronavirus Takes Root

LOS ANGELES, CA — The flu season is peaking in California, a troubling development as the coronavirus spreads in the Golden State at the same time.

In the week ending March 7, the most recent reporting period, the state confirmed 82 flu-related deaths, the highest death toll of any week this flu season. The two strands of the influenza virus have dominated this flu season, including influenza B, which is known to last well into April. Health officials are monitoring the situation very closely because the coronavirus outbreak is likely to test the state’s healthcare resources.

Younger children and adults are being hospitalized at record rates this flu season, even surpassing the previous record set during 2009’s H1N1 pandemic, according to this week’s flu report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The records were set in age groups consisting of children under 4 and adults ages 18-49, both of which were hit especially hard by influenza B viruses earlier this season. The CDC also noted in its report ending the week of March 7 that hospitalization rates for school-age children are higher than any recent season, though still lower than rates during the 2009 pandemic.

According to this week’s report, 144 children have died so far this flu season, a number that was only surpassed during the 2009 pandemic. Of those, 96 were associated with influenza B. In California, 15 children have died from the flu.

Influenza A is now the dominant strain infecting Americans, comprising 77 percent of confirmed illnesses last week.

As of last week, a total of 598 flu-related death have been reported in California, according to the California Department of Public Health.

In California, reported flu activity is currently elevated.

The CDC last week recorded at least 36 million flu illnesses, 370,000 hospitalizations and 22,000 deaths from flu. The CDC did note in the latest report that totals may be inaccurate due to reporting delays caused by the new coronavirus outbreak.

Nationally, the percentage of virus specimens testing positive for influenza decreased from 26.1 percent for the week ending Feb. 29 to 21.5 percent for the latest week.

Typically, the groups most at risk of the flu are older adults, very young children, pregnant women and those with certain chronic medical conditions.

According to the CDC, symptoms of the flu include:

• Fever or feeling feverish/chills (though not everyone with flu will have a fever)
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Muscle or body aches
• Headaches
• Fatigue
• Some people may have vomiting and diarrhea, though this is more common in children than adults.

The flu is a highly contagious illness, which is why the CDC urges everyone to take the following steps to protect themselves and others:

• Take time to get a flu shot: While there are many different flu viruses, a flu vaccine protects against the viruses that research suggests will be most common. The CDC says it’s not too late to get this year’s vaccine.
• Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
• While sick, limit contact with others as much as possible to keep from infecting them.
• If you are sick with flu symptoms, you should stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. (Your fever should be gone for 24 hours without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.)
• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Germs spread this way.
• Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that may be contaminated with germs such as the flu.
• Take flu antiviral drugs if your doctor prescribes them.