As Nasty Flu Spreads, California Reports 74 Dead So Far
The epidemic is producing rising death rates and overwhelmed emergency workers and nursing facilities.
Los Angeles Times:
Death Toll Jumps Sharply After California Experiences Its Worst Week Of The Flu Season
The death toll from influenza in California rose sharply on Friday, amid a brutal flu season that has spread across the nation. State health officials said that 32 people under 65 died last week of the flu, making it the deadliest week this season so far. In total, 74 people under age 65 have died of the flu since October, compared with 14 at the same time last year. (Karlamangla, 1/19)
San Francisco Chronicle:
California Flu Deaths Rise To 74, A Huge Increase Over A Year Earlier
The number of Californians who have died from the flu has risen to 74 as of the second week of January — five times the number seen at this point last year, according to figures released by state health officials Friday. Thirty-two people younger than 65 died from influenza during the second week of January, more than double the 15 deaths from the previous week, according to data from the California Department of Public Health. (Ho, 1/19)
The Mercury News:
California Flu Deaths Jump From 42 To 74; Greater Bay Area Reports 25
“It is an unfortunate fact that every flu season is serious because many people, from children to parents and grandparents, can become very ill and some may die from the flu,” said Paul Leung, chief of the communicable disease programs at the Contra Costa Public Health Department. (Seipel, 1/19)
The Bakersfield Californian:
County Public Health Officials Confirm Year's First Flu-Related Death For Someone Under 65
Michelle Placencia didn't feel well Sunday night. Soon she had a fever and chills, and felt fatigued. She saw a doctor Tuesday. By late Wednesday morning, she was dead. County Public Health officials said Placencia, a 39-year-old real estate agent and mother of five, was the first confirmed flu-related death in the county this year, a grim reminder of the danger the illness poses even to those who are otherwise healthy. (Kotowski, 1/19)