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In what California public health officials say could be the state’s worst flu season in a decade, two more flu-related deaths have been reported in the Greater Bay Area, increasing the region’s total to seven, and the state’s unofficial tally to 29.
Santa Clara County public health officials added the fifth victim to their list on Wednesday, while Solano County has just reported its first flu fatality. Monterey County reported one death at the end of December.
Since the state only records victims younger than 65, the number is likely to be even higher, state public health officials said during a news conference Wednesday. They noted that most people who have died were adults, and 70 percent were not vaccinated.
That’s why public health officials all around California are urging anyone who has not yet received a flu vaccine to get one as soon as possible.
“Getting the flu shot is still the best way of protecting yourself from the flu,” Dr. James Watt, who oversees the state’s communicable disease control center, said Wednesday.
Experts say vaccines are especially important for people at high risk for serious flu-related complications that can lead to hospitalization, and even death. That includes pregnant women; children younger than 5, but especially children younger than 2 years old; people 65 and older and people who have certain medical conditions, such as asthma, diabetes, and heart disease.
Dr. Colin Bucks, an emergency medicine doctor at Stanford Health, said record numbers of flu patients are streaming into the emergency room there, and elsewhere around the Bay Area, according to his colleagues who work in other hospitals.
“I have not seen a flu season this intense since 2009-2010,” Bucks said.
State public health officials said one reason for the alarming number of deaths is that California’s flu season started in early November, about a month before it normally kicks in.
Since then, they said, doctor’s office visits and hospitalizations from the flu and pneumonia are already at levels usually seen at the peak of flu season, which is weeks away. Flu season can sometimes last through May, experts say.
At Stanford Health, Bucks said patients can potentially get some relief with the anti-viral medication, oseltamivir (Tamiflu), particularly when it is started early in the course of the illness, and that the drug can be obtained by calling your primary care physician. Some drug stores already are reporting Tamiflu shortages, so it’s best to call ahead to make sure the drug is in stock.
Meanwhile, the emergency room doctor said, anyone with fever, cough, or a sore throat should constantly practice covering their cough or sneeze with their elbows — also known as “the Dracula cough” — and wash their hands frequently.
Social isolation – staying at home and away from people with chronic illnesses – is important during flu season to prevent sharing the virus.
“We recommend patients not return to work or school until the fever has completely resolved for 24 hours,” said Bucks.
The state is expected to report more deaths in the coming days when the California Department of Public Health releases new numbers.
According to the Los Angeles Daily News, for example, Los Angeles County has reported 36 flu-related deaths so far this season.
HOW TO TREAT THE FLU
- If your symptoms are mild, take care of yourself at home rather than going to your doctor.
- Rest will help you recover sooner and reduce your risk of additional infections such as bacterial pneumonia, sinusitis, or ear infection.
- Sip broth, herbal tea, and other non-alcoholic liquids to soothe your throat and relieve congestion.
- If you smoke, now is a good time to quit. Smoking can irritate your throat and make your cough worse.
- Take acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) to reduce fever and muscle aches.
- Stay home from work, school, and other public places for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone to avoid infecting others.
SOURCE: Kaiser Permanente
