California flu deaths near 100

In a follow up to a story last week, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) reported recently that the number of flu deaths in the state is now at 95, up from 45 just about one week prior.

Three of the 95 are pediatric deaths. There are an additional 51 deaths under investigation, not yet confirmed.

Generic influenza virion
Image/CDC

“The increasing number of influenza related deaths points to the severity of this flu season,” said Dr. Ron Chapman, director of the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and state health officer . “Vaccination is so important, because it continues to be the best defense against the flu.”

The 95 confirmed influenza-associated deaths this season have been reported by the following counties:
Alameda (3), Contra Costa (3), El Dorado (1), Fresno (5), Humboldt (1), Kern (4), Kings (3), Lassen (1), Long Beach (1), Los Angeles (8), Marin (2), Mendocino     (1), Merced (3), Monterey (2), Nevada (1), Orange (4), Riverside (3), Sacramento (10), San Bernardino (7), San Diego (6), San Francisco (1), San Joaquin (3), San Mateo (3), Santa Barbara (1), Santa Clara (7), Santa Cruz (1), Shasta (1), Siskiyou (1), Solano (1), Sonoma (3), Stanislaus (3) and Tulare (1).

The total number of deaths reported for the entire 2012-2013 influenza season was 106.

Nationally, the CDC reports 41 states as having widespread influenza activity. Influenza A H1N1 is the predominate strain seen this flu season.

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