Stanislaus County records its first flu-related death of the season
A man younger than 65 was the first person in Stanislaus County to die from influenza this season.
Public health officials fear that he won’t be the only one.
“This is a very sad reminder that flu can be a serious and sometimes a deadly disease,” said Dr. Thea Papasozomenos, assistant public health officer for the county, in a press release.
Influenza activity is widespread across the United States, including in all counties of California. Both A and B strains of the influenza virus are circulating statewide.
In addition to the death, five adults younger than 65 have been admitted to intensive care units in the county. Information about their underlying health status was not available.
From September through December 21, 2019, 46 deaths including two children younger than 18 have occurred in California.
The influenza season is usually during the winter months in the Northern Hemisphere. However, this year the season started in early September with the death of a 4-year-old boy in Riverside County, signaling the possibility of a severe season.
During the 2018-19 season, 8,000 influenza-related deaths were reported in the U.S.
Symptoms of influenza
Influenza illness typically starts with abrupt onset of fevers, chills and body aches, with associated congestion, cough or sore throat. The illness can be severe, leading to complications such as ear infections, pneumonia, hospitalization and death.
Individuals with underlying immune deficiency or chronic illnesses, infants, young children and the elderly are at greater risk of complications and death, but problems can occur in healthy individuals of any age.
Treatment for the flu
Prescription anti-viral medications that kill the flu virus are available from health care providers. The medications work better when taken soon after symptoms start, ideally within 48 hours. The medications can decrease the severity of symptoms and shorten the duration by about a day. They also may reduce the risk of complications.
Individuals with flu-like symptoms should contact their doctor to see if they should take anti-viral medicines.
It’s not too late to get your flu vaccines
“Flu vaccination is the most effective protection against flu, and it’s still not too late to get a flu shot,” Papasozomenos said in the press release.
Multiple influenza viruses can circulate through the spring months. Even if a person is infected with one strain, they can still get infected with a different strain. It takes at least two weeks after the vaccine to develop immunity (protection against the viruses).
A person cannot get the flu from the shot. Injectable vaccines in the U.S. are prepared using purified proteins from the A and B strains of the influenza viruses.
The nasal spray influenza vaccine, called FluMist, which is licensed for individuals ages 2 through 49 who don’t have contraindications, is also available. This vaccine is made with weakened, live flu viruses, and flu-like symptoms can occur after vaccination.
The CDC recommends an age-appropriate influenza vaccine for everyone 6 months of age and older, unless a person has a contraindication.
Additional information about influenza and vaccinations in Stanislaus County can be found at: http://www.stanemergency.org/diseases/coldsflu/
This story was produced with financial support from The Stanislaus County Office of Education and the Stanislaus Community Foundation, along with the GroundTruth Project’s Report for America initiative. The Modesto Bee maintains full editorial control of this work.
This story was originally published January 7, 2020 at 4:19 PM.
