Los Angeles County has confirmed its first flu death of the season, and with the majority of the season nonetheless forward, well being officers are reminding residents to get vaccinated.
The one that died was aged and had a number of underlying well being situations, in accordance with the county Department of Public Health. There was no document of the particular person being vaccinated for flu this season, officers added.
“Although most people recover from influenza without complications, this death is a reminder that influenza can be a serious illness. … Annually, thousands of people nationwide are hospitalized or die from influenza-associated illness,” well being officers stated in a press release.
Statewide, 9 individuals have died from flu since Oct. 1, in accordance with the newest information from the California Department of Public Health.
Flu season normally runs from October by way of May and peaks round February, however each season is completely different. An estimated 670 Californians died from flu throughout the 2022-23 season, public well being figures present.
Federal well being officers have lengthy really useful most everybody get an annual flu shot. But that decision has taken on elevated urgency lately, given the extra menace posed by COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV.
Health officers are getting ready for the chance of a renewed “tripledemic” this winter, with all three viruses circulating broadly on the identical time. Last yr, Southern California was hit laborious by an early onslaught of RSV, a traditionally robust begin to the flu season and a COVID-19 spike — straining a healthcare system already stretched skinny and sending sufferers to the emergency room in droves.
“Current indicators of influenza activity in Los Angeles County are in line with past seasons and have been rising in recent weeks,” officers stated.
As of the week that ended Nov. 4, the latest interval for which information can be found, flu exercise was nonetheless thought-about low statewide, in accordance with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
But flu exercise is rising as the vacation season approaches, and officers largely advocate everybody age 6 months and older, particularly older adults and people with weakened immune techniques, get vaccinated.
Although some wholesome individuals could also be unfazed by flu season, officers say they need to nonetheless get the shot in order that they don’t unfold the sickness to somebody who may not get well as rapidly.
