L.A. County has had its first flu dying in a season that well being officers have warned could possibly be extreme.
The county Division of Public Well being confirmed the influenza-associated fatality on Wednesday.
The dying occurred in an aged particular person with underlying well being situations who had not obtained a flu vaccination this season, in keeping with the Division of Public Well being.
“We ship our condolences to the household and family members of the individual we misplaced. This tragic dying reminds us how severe influenza may be,” Dr. Muntu Davis, Los Angeles County well being officer, mentioned in a information launch.
Flu exercise is low in the mean time, although it’s prone to enhance with Thanksgiving subsequent week and the vacation season, which generally includes extra aircraft journey and indoor gatherings.
Final 12 months’s flu season was the worst California had seen in years — and state well being officers have already warned that this 12 months could possibly be simply as dangerous.
Well being specialists, together with the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention, suggest an annual flu vaccination for everybody older than 6 months.
Nationwide, the variety of kids who died from flu final season — 280 — was the best in about 15 years, in keeping with one report. About 9 in 10 of these kids weren’t vaccinated, officers mentioned.
The flu vaccine may be administered similtaneously the COVID-19 vaccine and takes two weeks for defense to develop.
“You can too scale back your danger by taking easy however highly effective steps,” Davis mentioned. “[W]ash your fingers continuously, keep dwelling and away from others once you really feel sick, and put on a well-fitting masks in crowded indoor areas, round individuals at greater danger, or every time you will have signs.”
As respiratory virus exercise will increase in L.A. County, the Division of Public Well being additionally recommends that everybody 6 months and older obtain an up to date COVID-19 vaccine. RSV immunization can be beneficial for older adults, pregnant individuals and infants.
L.A. County residents can discover a vaccine web site close to them by visiting the division’s web site.
