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More than 900 Californians, including 15 children, have succumbed to the flu this season, according to a report released Friday by the California Department of Public Health.
Most of the flu victims – 701 were over 64 years old. This tracks the traditional notion that illness disproportionates to older adults.
However, the number of children who died has raised concerns. By February 15, four more children had died from the flu, with more than a third of the seasonal pediatric deaths rising, according to the report.
Regarding Covid-19, “We thought that the elderly were getting sick,” said Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, an infectious disease expert and professor of medicine at UC San Francisco. “You need to reset with the flu. In the case of the flu, it’s not only because it’s very old, but because it’s very young. And they can do it very well.”
The 15 children who died of the flu this season include four San Diego teenagers. None of the teens, ages 14, 15, 16 or 17, had received shots of the flu, according to health officials.
“The recent flu deaths among our youth are tragic and we are concerned as we are historically heading towards the peak of flu season,” said Ankita Cadakia, Interim Public Health Officer in San Diego County. The doctor said in a statement this month.
According to Chin-Hong, vaccination rates have declined, especially among children, for the flu and other illnesses.
Nationwide, about 58% of children from six months to 17 were vaccinated against the flu during the 2020-21 season, falling to about 45% in late January of this year.
“In the vaccine world, it’s like falling off a cliff,” Chinghong said.
The trends are similar in California. 47.7% of California children are vaccinated from the flu in late January, at least the lowest since the 2019-20 flu season. Last year, at this point, 53.7% of children were vaccinated from the flu.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that anyone under six months should get a shot of the flu. Ideally, by the end of October, it is recommended to promote protection against disease during high circulation winters.
The two flu currently circulating now include H1N1, which is associated with strains of swine flu that caused the influenza pandemic in 2009 and 2010, and “generally known for causing serious illnesses.” H3N2 mentioned earlier.
Given how strong this flu season is already, officials say those who haven’t yet been vaccinated should consider doing so.
Influenza activity remains high, but may be declining. A recent report from California public health officials shows Fullfest has dropped by 3.4% in the percentage of positive results at the state’s clinical sentinel laboratory for the week that ends February 15th .
Still, the test positivity rate has risen by 23.3%. Covid-19 and RSV activity is low and health officials say the positivity rate is 2.3% and 5%, respectively.
Qinghong said it is not yet clear whether the downward trend will hold.
“I think it’s too early to celebrate,” he said, adding that more data points are needed.
The virus spreads all year round, but the US flu season usually peaks between December and February, according to the CDC.
Even if it is declining, the virus is known to spend a long season, Jin Hong said. It could run in April, sometimes later in the year.
“Peak isn’t the only thing we’re worried about,” Chinghong said. “That’s also the breadth of what’s going on this year.”
There were about 500 deaths from the flu last season, and at this point 600 people had died the previous year, Mercury News reported.
Chin-Hong estimates that he has never seen the number of deaths this season in 10 years.
Times staff writer Longgonlin II contributed to this report.
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