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CA Records Deadliest Week As Unusual Flu Season Peaks
This week was California's deadliest so far this season. Somewhat unexpectedly, younger people are getting sick at unusually high rates.
By Paige Austin, Patch Staff
Jan 18, 2020 12:05 am PT | Updated Jan 18, 2020 10:31 am PT
The second week of the year proved to be the deadliest week of the flu season in California with 35 confirmed deaths.

LOS ANGELES, CA — The second week of the year proved to be the deadliest week of the flu season in California with 35 confirmed deaths, bringing the total number of deaths up to 105. But as the flu season seems to be peaking, health officials are noticing some unusual developments. Namely, younger people are getting sick and dying from the flu at higher rates than usual while the elderly population is faring better than most years.

However, there are signs that this unlikely trend could soon reverse itself with the rise of viral H1N1 outbreaks.

Influenza B has been the dominant strain infecting people so far this flu season. That's good news for older patients who seem to have some protection from the virus. It's the younger patients who seem to be getting sick and dying at higher than usual rates. Hospitals throughout California reported a spike in flu-related visits in January. And, in places such as Los Angeles, most of the reported infections have been among younger or middle aged patients, said Dr. Jeffrey Gunzenhauser, chief medical officer for the Los Angeles County Public Health Department.

At this point health officials can only hypothesize as to why, he said.

More than 30 years ago influenza B was often the predominant flu strain leaving open the possibility that older patients may have caught it in the past and developed a degree of immunity since influenza B doesn't mutate as frequently influenza A. It's influenza A that has dominated flu seasons in recent years, and it tends to be deadlier for people more than 65-years-old.

"There is not a lot of explanation other than probably pre-existing immunity," Gunzenhauser said. "While part of the message is we have been fortunate with influenza B not affecting older people as much as historically… we don't want to give the impression that we are out of the woods yet."

That's because the H1N1 flu virus is on the rise, and older, more vulnerable patients are particularly affected by it. As of this week, the H1N1 virus is responsible for half the flu cases Gunzenhauser is seeing. With H1N1 on the rise, the flu season could be prolonged, lasting another few months. Patients who haven't yet gotten the flu shot should do so now, said Gunzenhauser. It's highly effective against H1N1.

The same trend is playing out statewide, where there have been 35 outbreaks this season.

"Influenza activity remains widespread in California. Influenza viruses, mainly influenza B (Victoria) and influenza A (H1N1) are circulating widely in the state," reports the California Department of Public Health.

Gunzenhauser also recommends a novel approach for vulnerable residents. They should make arrangements with their doctors to access antiviral medications before they get the flu because antiviral medications are most effective when administered within 48 hours of infection.

"The key thing about these medicines is you have to start them right away," he said. "People at risk for severe complications – people 65 or older, pregnant women, people with heart disease, people on dialysis — should talk to their provider to make arrangements. Many providers will prescribe it over the phone."

Vulnerable patients should take the medicine at the first sign of fever.

If you have flu symptoms, call a doctor, and if symptoms are extreme, go to the emergency room.

According to the CDC, symptoms of the flu include:

    Fever or feeling feverish/chills (though not everyone with flu will have a fever)
    Cough
    Sore throat
    Runny or stuffy nose
    Muscle or body aches
    Headaches
    Fatigue
    Some people may have vomiting and diarrhea, though this is more common in children than adults.