H1N1 Virus Claims Youngest San Diego Victim This Flu Season
County health officials believe the number of this season’s flu cases is plateauing
By Rory Devine and R. Stickney
NBCSanDiego.com
Thursday, Jan 30, 2014
San Diego County health officials report eight more influenza-related deaths last week including the region’s youngest victim of the flu season.
The 31-year-old man died after contracting the H1N1 strain of the flu. In total, 20 people have died from influenza in San Diego County this season.
H1N1 disproportionately affects children and young to middle-aged adults, according to the Centers for Disease and Prevention. Officials said 55 percent of all deaths this year are considered middle-aged.
The eight people who died all had underlying health conditions.
San Diego County is seeing more ICU hospitalizations from influenza over the previous year, officials said Wednesday.
Even though the number of local flu cases has increased over the previous week, the County Public Health Officer said the trend of patients was expected to gradually lessen.
Wilma Wooten, M.D., M.P.H. said it appears the number of this season’s flu cases is plateauing.
“We’ve seen the worst already,” Wooten said.
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