Flu Death Toll Inches Higher, But Officials Think Season May Have Peaked
Although there are indicators that the flu might be on the downswing, officials are still urging people to vaccinated.
San Diego Union-Tribune:
County Flu Death Toll Reaches 21
San Diego County reported seven more flu-related deaths Wednesday, pushing the total this flu season to 21 — nearly three times the number tallied by the same time last year. While that grim statistic might worry anyone fighting an influenza infection, public health experts say there are reasons to think flu activity may have already peaked in the region. Dr. Wilma Wooten, the county’s chief public health officer, said the number of flu patients in local intensive care units last week was only one-third as many as the week before. (Sisson, 1/25)
In other public health news —
Sacramento Bee:
Sacramento State Shuts Down Water Fountains, Sinks After Finding High Lead Levels
Students at Sacramento State returned to school after winter break this week to find drinking fountains, bottle-filling stations and sinks in six classroom buildings and two dormitories shut down after elevated lead levels were discovered in the water. The high lead levels were found by students and professors working on a research project during their tests of 449 sinks and fountains on the campus over a three-day period earlier this month. The testing revealed 27 water sources had lead levels above the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s allowable limit of 15 parts per billion, according to California State University, Sacramento, officials. (Lambert and Chavez, 1/25)
KPCC:
'Dramatic Increase' In Sexually Transmitted Diseases In Orange County
While the number of Californians infected with sexually transmitted diseases has risen in recent years, increases in Orange County have been more dramatic. In the past five years, cases of syphilis in the county have increased by more than 400 percent, gonorrhea by more than 200 percent and chlamydia by more than 50 percent. According to provisional data, in 2016 there were 12,597 cases of chlamydia, 2,973 cases of gonorrhea and 553 cases of early stage syphilis. Statewide, the highest rates of sexually transmitted infections are found among young people, African-Americans, and gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, according to the California Department of Public Health. (Lavender, 1/25)