With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today .
It's not too late to get a flu shot, say officials
Listen
• 0:51
(
Claus Rebler via Flickr Creative Commons
)
The flu has arrived in California with a vengeance, say local and state health officials.
The statewide rate of hospitalizations due to respiratory illness during the first week of January was the highest seen in 10 years, according to the California Department of Public Health. Health officials in Los Angeles and Orange counties say they're seeing more cases than usual at this point in the season.
It's impossible to track the exact number of flu cases, since many people never get tested for the illness. So counties measure flu activity based on several indicators. In L.A. County, "by all of the measures we use, the amount of influenza activity in the county is very high," says Dr. Benjamin Schwartz, acting director of the county public health department's acute communicable disease control program.
There have been 2,433 confirmed cases in L.A. County so far this flu season, compared with 618 at this time last year, according to the health department.
Support for LAist comes from
It's been seven or eight years since L.A. saw this much flu activity at this point in the season, says Schwartz. Flu season typically peaks in February, he adds.
He says there have been 17 flu outbreaks reported in L.A. County long-term care facilities for the elderly, compared with 19 outbreaks during last year's entire flu season. Similarly, the state health department says it's received more than twice the number of outbreak reports as in recent years.
In Orange County, there were 931 confirmed cases as of the second week of January, according to Jessica Good, spokeswoman for the county's Health Care Agency. That compares with 281 cases at this point last year. The county's last severe flu season, spanning 2014-2015, saw 922 cases, she says.
At Children's Hospital Los Angeles, doctors have seen almost twice as many cases of flu this year compared with this time last year, says pediatrician Juan Espinoza. He says this could suggest the flu is a little more virulent this year, or fewer people got vaccinated.
Health officials underscore that it is not too late to get a flu shot. They say the vaccine closely matches the virus circulating this season, suggesting it will provide solid protection against the illness.
Flu is mainly spread through droplets from coughs and sneezes. Symptoms may include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, headaches, body aches, chills and fatigue. Illness can become severe, leading to missed school or work, hospitalization and death.
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
Immigration raids have caused some U.S. citizens to carry their passports to the store, to school or to work. But what documents to have on you depends on your citizenship. -
The historic properties have been sitting vacant for decades and were put on the market as-is, with prices ranging from $750,000 to $1.75 million. -
Users of the century old Long Beach wooden boardwalk give these suggestions to safely enjoy it. -
The Newport Beach City Council approved a new artificial surf park that will replace part of an aging golf course. -
The utility, whose equipment is believed to have sparked the Eaton Fire, says payouts could come as quickly as four months after people submit a claim. But accepting the money means you'll have to forego any lawsuits. -
The City Council will vote Tuesday on a proposal to study raising the pay for construction workers on apartments with at least 10 units and up to 85 feet high.
Best of LAist