March 28, 2024
Influenza on the march, claims first fatality
SACRAMENTO – (INT) – The flu season arrived several weeks ago. But only now has the first death in California been reported.

State health officials say an individual in Los Angeles County has become the first under the age of 65 to die.

Flu activity is usually highest between December and February, but can last through the spring. It spikes during and just after the holidays.

To reduce the threat, the California Department of Public Health recommends an annual flu vaccine for everyone six months of age and older, including pregnant women. Because of the number of flu strains, it is not 100 percent effective.

The Centers for Disease Control makes these recommendations:

· Only injectable flu shots are recommended for use this season.
· Flu vaccines have been updated to better match circulating viruses.
· There will be some new vaccines on the market this season.
· The recommendations for vaccination of people with egg allergies have changed.

Some flu shots protect against three flu viruses and some protect against four flu viruses. The Riverside Medical Clinic is among those offering a quadrivalent that includes protection against the B/Phuket virus strain.

The 2015-2016 flu season started a little later than the previous three flu seasons. The season also peaked later in Mid-March. While H3N2 viruses predominated early in the season, H1N1 viruses were the most common later in the season and were the predominant virus for the entire season. This is the virus that emerged in 2009 to cause a pandemic.

Everyone is urged to get a vaccination by the end of January at the latest.
Story Date: December 10, 2016
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