Calif. Influenza Death Toll Rises to 147, Health Officials Say
On Friday, California public health officials announced that 147 individuals in the state have died after contracting influenza -- 10 times the number of flu-related deaths in the state as reported at the same time last year. James Watt, head of the state's Division of Communicable Disease Control, said 44 other deaths are being investigated for possible links to the flu.
- "California Sees High Rate of Flu Deaths in Unusually Severe Season" (Bernstein, Reuters, 1/31).
- "California Flu Deaths Jump 50 Percent From Last Week; Sacramento Among Hotspots" (Reese, Sacramento Bee, 1/31).
- "Flu-Related Death Toll Rises to 147 in California" (Ivie, Contra Costa Times, 2/1).