SAN DIEGO–Six additional influenza deaths were reported last week, bringing this season’s total to 30, the County Health and Human Services Agency said..
The ages of the new fatalities ranged from 40 to 76-years-old. All had underlying medical conditions and only one is known to have gotten a flu vaccination.
“Influenza deaths are very unfortunate, but they do occur” said Wilma Wooten, M.D., M.P.H., County public health officer. “People should continue to get vaccinated as the flu season is not over yet.”
The County Health and Human Services Agency publishes the weekly Influenza Watch report, which tracks key flu indicators and summarizes influenza surveillance in the region. All other indicators are at expected levels for this time of year.
For the week ending Feb. 9, the Influenza Watch report shows the following:
- Emergency department visits for influenza-like illness: 5 percent of all visits (the same as the previous week).
- Lab-confirmed influenza cases for the week: 488 (compared to 446 the previous week).
- Total influenza deaths to date: 30 (compared to 250 at this time last season).
- Total lab-confirmed cases to date: 4,423 (compared to 16,097 at this time last season).
