The worst flu season of many years has overwhelmed California, prompting a new surge in hospitalizations as officials warned that the disease could continue to circulate at high levels for the coming weeks.
According to data from the California Department of Public Health, on one scale, this season has already been stronger than we have seen since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic in early 2020. The percentage of influenza testing returning positive results at the state’s clinical sentinel labs rose to 27.8% in the most recent week of the week that closes February 1st.
This is higher than the “three times” winter peak in 2022-23, when hospitals in California highlighted simultaneous hypercirculation of influenza, covid, respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV.
“We’re still heading up,” says Dr. Peter Ching-Hong, an infectious disorder expert at UC San Francisco, about the flu. He said since the pandemic began, “This is the first time we’ve been talking mainly about the flu and not covid.”
The percentage of influenza testing that has returned to positive at California Clinical Sentinel Labs has reached levels not seen in the past five years.
(California Department of Public Health)
At least 10 pediatric influenza deaths have occurred in California this season, according to Department of Public Health data. This includes three teenagers from San Diego County.
“These recent flu deaths among our youth are tragic and we are concerned as we are historically heading towards the peak of flu season,” said the county interim public health officer. Officer Dr. Ankita Kadakia said in a statement.
None of the teens had received the flu vaccine, but he said that Kadakia remains “the best protection against getting seriously ill.” Nationally, the U.S. Centers for Estimated Disease Control and Prevention have seen at least 11,000 deaths from the flu, including 47 children this season, and at least 250,000 hospitalizations.
“I think with Covid, I’m used to the idea that kids aren’t quoting,” Chinghong said. But the flu can be “very serious in children. Pediatricians tell me they’re seeing a lot of flu right now in their kids.”
Complicating the issue is the unusually low rate of vaccination for children against the flu this winter. This is at least the lowest since the 2019-20 season. Nationwide, 44.5% of children under the age of 17 were vaccinated against the flu in late January, a 49.1% decrease at the same time last year, a 51.7% decrease from the previous year.
Since at least the 2019-20 respiratory virus season, the flu vaccination rate in children under the age of 17 is at the lowest level.
(Centres for Disease Control and Prevention)
The trends are similar in California. 47.7% of California children were vaccinated from the flu in late January, the lowest since at least the 2019-20 flu season. Last year, at this point, 53.7% of children were vaccinated from the flu.
The CDC 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 from illness during the high circulation winter.
But given how strong this flu season is already, officials say those who haven’t yet been vaccinated should consider doing so.
“This has been a particularly long and difficult flu season compared to recent years, and it’s not over yet,” Kadakia said.
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 said. Of the approximately 3,500 influenza type A viruses, the viruses analyzed nationwide over the last week among the Institutes of Public Health were 54% H1N1 and 46% H3N2.
No humans had identified avian influenza virus that week. Health officials say the current risk to the public from avian flu remains low as no human-to-person spread has been detected. There have been 68 human cases across the country, including 38 in California. Most of these cases are associated with exposure to infected poultry or cattle.
Pharmacist Deep Patel will prepare Brandon Guerrero’s flu and Covid 19 vaccine on August 28, 2024 at the Huntington Park CVS.
(Christina House/Los Angeles Times)
Overall, influenza activity is “high and increasing,” California health officials said in their latest weekly respiratory virus report, but at this point, either Covid or RSV spread. He said he was not seen in the same way.
Symbiotic activity is low across the state, with low and reduced RSV activity. The latest test positivity rate for Covid was 2.4%, and 5% for RSV.
Some experts warn that test positivity rates are not the best metric to compare flu seasons with each other, as testing practices and healthcare use differ from season to season.
Influenza levels in California’s wastewaters are considered to be “very high.”
(Centres for Disease Control and Prevention)
As in most other states, levels of influenza detected by monitoring in California wastewater are “very high,” data show. In California, RSV levels are considered “high” while COVID levels are considered low.
California hospitalization rates from influenza are also rising, probably showing its second winter peak. According to the latest state report, hospitalization rates rose to 10.1 new admissions per 100,000 people. This is the best mark of the season.
The overall rate of influenza hospitalizations may be at its second peak in California.
(California Department of Public Health)
“The flu forecast suggests that emergency department visits remain high and could increase in most states,” the CDC said.
At UC San Francisco, staff were warned that the hospital was full. “A lot of people have the flu in hospitals, so that could be part of that.”
This situation is roughly the same in Los Angeles County. This winter flu season appears to be the most durable and powerful post-Covid emergency period.
The influenza test positivity rate has exceeded 20% for the seventh consecutive week in LA County, rising to 28.83% in the most recent week.
The rate of positive flu tests in LA County exceeding 20% for the seventh consecutive week. The 2020-21 flu season is not displayed as flu levels were very minimal during the first full season of the Covid-19 pandemic.
(LA County Public Health Department)
This sustained surge in positive flu tests continued in the 2019-20 season, with the influenza test positive rate above 20%.
According to the CDC, national emergency room visits are very high for flu and moderate for RSV. But they are low in Covid-19.
The percentage of influenza testing returning nationwide is 31.6%, an increase. The positive rate for the RSV test decreases at 6.6%. The COVID test positivity rate is also falling, at 4.9% as of the last report issued Friday.
The map shows that respiratory disease levels are “very high” in the US East, but moderate in California.
(Centres for Disease Control and Prevention)
“Covid forecasts for the next two weeks suggest that emergency department visits will remain at a lower level compared to previous winter,” the CDC said.
If that trend applies, this will be the first winter of the Covid era when California does not see a significant surge in disease.
“The late Covid surge seen in last summer and early fall is likely to have reduced some of the Covid-19-prone population this winter,” the LA County Public Health Department said in a statement. I stated.
And perhaps it could help with the problem, Chin-Hong said that no new blockbuster Covid sub-variants have appeared in recent months.
Overall levels of respiratory disease, including influenza, covid and RSV, are the worst in respiratory diseases at the eastern US level, and are considered moderate in most of California and the West.
Covid and RSV vaccines are also available, and health officials recommend residents, especially those at high risk of developing severe symptoms. RSV vaccinations were first approved for use in the US in 2023.
Ages of 6 months or older are recommended to receive the Covid vaccine, which was updated last fall. The RSV vaccine is at an increased risk for all adults over the age of 75 and for those aged 60-74. To prevent severe RSV in babies, authorities recommends immunizing babies with maternal vaccinations or monoclonal antibodies.
“It’s more important than ever for people to take the flu vaccine as respiratory infections are circulating in our communities during this time,” the Fresno County interim health officer said in a statement.
A report published in the weekly CDC morbidity and mortality report in October points out that influenza vaccination rates are declining in other countries, including South America.
“The findings are consistent with post-pandemic declines in the range of vaccinations across the Americas associated with vaccine misinformation, hesitation and disruptions in daily vaccination services,” the report states. .
Some health experts have expressed caution about the rising skepticism surrounding vaccine safety. Health experts say the country’s recommended vaccine is safe.
“Is that part of the general, is it all about RFK Jr. asking more questions about vaccines,” Chin-Hong said. The decline in flu vaccination rates for children added, “It’s impressive for me.”
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