Five of six influenza-related deaths in Santa Clara County have occurred this month alone, according to County health information officer Amy Cornell whose recent report showed double the number of fatalities .
All six victims were found to have the H1N1 strand, shared Cornell.
“What we’re seeing is more severe cases and deaths earlier in the year,” she said, noting the county confirmed eight total influenza-related deaths all of last season.
“Unfortunately, the flu season is quite unpredictable,” she continued. “It’s difficult to say where it goes from here.”
At last count, there have been 45 influenza-related deaths throughout the state this flu season, which runs from October through April, as documented in a Jan. 17 release from the California Department of Public Heath.
The new fatality numbers are an increase of 38 deaths from an earlier report, according to Dr. Ron Chapman, director of the CDPH and state health officer, who noted that two are pediatric deaths.
“Flu activity continues to increase statewide, including reports of hospitalizations, severe disease and the number of deaths,” Chapman said. “We are clearly in the midst of what appears to be an earlier peaking, severe flu season, and I encourage everyone who has not yet gotten a flu vaccination to do so. The influenza vaccine remains the most effective way to protect yourself from the flu.”
For the most recent reporting period, ending Jan. 11, there were an additional 38 confirmed deaths in 20 counties throughout California. That brings the total of influenza-related deaths for the season to 45 with an additional 50 deaths under investigation by the CDPH.
Sacramento County had the most confirmed with five influenza-related deaths followed by Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties with four. Along with Santa Clara County, there were three influenza-related deaths in Orange, San Diego and Stanislaus counties. Two such cases were confirmed in Contra Costa, Kings, Marin, Merced, San Mateo counties, while one in each Kern, Lassen, Mendocino, Riverside, San Francisco and Santa Barbara counties.
The pediatric deaths occurred in Los Angeles and San Mateo counties.
In Santa Clara County, a 61-year-old man with underlying medical conditions died of H1N1 the first week of January and a 41-year-old woman died from H1N1 in December, according to a Jan. 10 release from the Santa Clara County Public Health Department. The same report states that there were 12 cases of severe flu reported, six confirmed to be H1N1, in addition to the two deaths. Only flu cases that are in persons less than 65 years of age, and that are severe enough to require hospitalization in an ICU or result in death, are reportable to the Public Health Department.
CDPH has about 50,000 state-purchased doses that are available to local health departments, while there are more than 290,000 federally purchased Vaccines for Children program doses available to order by local health departments or private providers.
“It is possible that private health care providers in California may temporarily run out of stock from time-to-time, but ample supplies of vaccine are still available for order,” the state release reads.
Where to find vaccines
In Gilroy, flu vaccinations are available at Rite Aid (360 E. Tenth Street); Target (6705 Camino Arroyo); Walgreens (770 First Street); and U.S. HealthWorks (7793 Wren Avenue).
In Morgan Hill, flu vaccinations are available at Walgreens (745 E. Dunne Ave.); Safeway Pharmacy (840 E. Dunne Ave. and 235 Tennant Station); CVS/pharmacy (16995 Walnut Grove Drive); Rite Aid (16000 Monterey Street); Target (1061 Cochrane Rd.)
This year’s vaccination does protect against H1N1.
“The Public Health Department urges residents to get a flu vaccination, if they haven’t already,” reads the county’s release.
Chapman recommends everyone to practice good hand washing and other good health habits. Additionally, when feeling ill or sick, individuals should limit contact with others; cover their nose and mouth when sneezing or coughing; wash hands thoroughly with soap and water or use an alcohol-based run; and avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth to prevent the spread of germs.
Those at highest risk – the elderly, pregnant women, infants, or those with other health conditions – who show flu symptoms should contact their physician immediately in order to get the most effective treatment. Symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle or body aches, headaches and fatigue.
