Countywide Flu Death Total This Season Reaches Seventeen

(February 6) At least seventeen deaths in San Bernardino County in the last six weeks have been attributed to the flu.
According to the San Bernardino County Department of Public Health, those 17 deaths have been confirmed as flu-related, the worst flu season since 2009-10.  Most of those fatalities occurred in individuals 40-59 years of age.
“The number of confirmed flu-related deaths within San Bernardino County has increased from 2 to 16 since January 10, 2014,” a health department bulletin put out on January 31 stated. “The confirmed deaths are scattered throughout the county with no specific regional trend.”
Thirteen of the flu- related deaths proceeded from cases of the 2009 H1N1 strain that caused the 2009-10 H1N1 pandemic. During the 2009-10 H1N1 pandemic, the county reported 45 flu-related deaths. The total number of deaths reported for the entire 2012-13 influenza season in the county of San Bernardino was five.
“This flu season is severe and may be peaking earlier in comparison to previous seasons,” said Dr. Maxwell Ohikhuare, health officer of county of San Bernardino Department of Public Health “Everyone who has not yet had a flu vaccination is encouraged to do so immediately. The influenza vaccine remains the most effective way to protect oneself from the flu.”

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