California Counties Experience Elevated Flu Activity

In California, flu struck surprisingly early and hard this season. As of Dec. 30, the California Department of Public Health reported elevated flu activity in all of the state’s 58 counties. The state’s warmer temperatures typically mean people are less confined indoors and result in a later flu season compared with other regions. Health experts aren’t sure why this season is different.

Nationally, flu is widespread in 46 states, including California, according to the latest reports to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

As of mid-December, at least 106 Americans had died from the infectious disease. At least 27 Californians younger than 65 had died as of Friday, seven of them during the week before Christmas. And states across the country are reporting higher-than-average flu-related hospitalizations and emergency room visits.

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<h1>California Counties Experience Elevated Flu Activity</h1>
<div>		<time class="posted-on" datetime="2018-01-12T02:00:11-08:00">
			January 12, 2018		</time>
		</div>
<p>In California, flu struck surprisingly early and hard this season. As of Dec. 30, the California Department of Public Health reported elevated flu activity in all of the state’s 58 counties. The state’s warmer temperatures typically mean people are less confined indoors and result in a later flu season compared with other regions. Health experts aren’t sure why this season is different. </p><p>Nationally, flu is widespread in 46 states, including California, according to the latest reports to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).</p><p>As of mid-December, at least 106 Americans had died from the infectious disease. <a href="http://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-ln-flu-surge-20180106-htmlstory.html">At least 27 Californians</a> younger than 65 had died as of Friday, <a href="https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/CDPH%20Document%20Library/Immunization/FINALReport_201751.pdf">seven of them</a> during the week before Christmas. And states across the country are reporting higher-than-average flu-related hospitalizations and emergency room visits.</p><ul><li><a href="https://californiahealthline.org/multimedia/california-counties-experience-elevated-flu-activity/?share=facebook">				Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)				Facebook			</a></li><li><a href="https://californiahealthline.org/multimedia/california-counties-experience-elevated-flu-activity/?share=linkedin">				Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)				LinkedIn			</a></li><li><a href="https://californiahealthline.org/multimedia/california-counties-experience-elevated-flu-activity/?share=x">				Click to share on X (Opens in new window)				X			</a></li><li><a href="mailto:?subject=%5BShared%20Post%5D%20California%20Counties%20Experience%20Elevated%20Flu%20Activity&body=https%3A%2F%2Fcaliforniahealthline.org%2FMjY1MTI0&share=email">				Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)				Email			</a></li><li><a href="https://californiahealthline.org/multimedia/california-counties-experience-elevated-flu-activity/#print?share=print">				Click to print (Opens in new window)				Print			</a></li></ul><em><a href="https://kffhealthnews.org/about-us">KFF Health News</a> is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF—an independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism. Learn more about <a href="https://www.kff.org/about-us">KFF</a>.</em><p><a href="https://californiahealthline.org/morning-briefing/">Subscribe</a> to KFF Health News' free Morning Briefing.</p>

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