Flu deaths top 200 in California with majority being due to H1N1 influenza
The number of influenza-related fatalities in California has risen by another 56 cases during the past week, bringing the total deaths associated with flu to 202, according to a California Department of Public Health (CDPH) press release today.
Public domain image/National Atlas of the United States
The total deaths reported so far in the 2013-2014 flu season has nearly doubled the total of 106 reported during the entire 2012-2013 flu season.
In addition, health officials say that there are another 41 deaths under investigation awaiting confirmation.
Of the 202 fatalities, 194 (96.0%) were positive for influenza A, 3 (1.5%) were positive for influenza B, and 5 (2.5%) were positive for influenza but the type is not known.
To break down the influenza cases further, the vast majority (150 or 77%) were subtyped 2009 A (H1N1), while 2 were subtyped as H3 strains and 42 were not subtyped.
The majority of flu-related deaths reported in California for which data was available, had co-morbid conditions considered by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) to increase the risk for severe influenza.
The 202 confirmed influenza-associated deaths this season have been reported by the following jurisdictions: Alameda (5), Contra Costa (5), El Dorado (2), Fresno (15), Glenn (1), Humboldt (1), Imperial (1), Kern (8), Kings (3), Lake (1), Lassen (1), Long Beach (3), Los Angeles (26), Madera (2), Marin (2), Mendocino (2), Merced (4), Monterey (2), Nevada (1), Orange (8), Riverside (6), Sacramento (21), San Bernardino (15), San Diego (17), San Francisco (3), San Joaquin (6), San Luis Obispo (1), San Mateo (4), Santa Barbara (2), Santa Clara (10), Santa Cruz (1), Shasta (1), Siskiyou (2), Solano (1), Sonoma (4), Stanislaus (12), Tulare (1), Tuolumne (1) and Ventura (1).
Nationally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says some states that saw earlier increases in flu activity are now beginning to see decreases. Other states are continuing to see high levels of flu activity or are seeing continued increases in activity. Flu activity is likely to continue for several more weeks.
Twenty-nine states (including California) reported widespread geographic influenza activity. This is a decrease from the 38 states that reported widespread activity in the previous week.
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