Noting that the flu epidemic seems to have been passing over the state of California for a while now, NBC Bay Area reports that doctors nevertheless warn residents to brace for impact when the flu finally does arrive full force. In some areas, it has already arrived.
What do the experts say?
"If people don't get their vaccines here after they see how bad it is on the East Coast we could end up seeing patients in tents in the parking lot like we are seeing in other cities," a pediatrician with Silicon Valley Pediatricians notes.
How is the flu already affecting the Golden State?
As noted by the Bay Area News Group, Northern California is dealing with the arrival of the flu strain identified as influenza A H3N2. Compounding the busy nature of hospitals and doctors' offices are seasonal respiratory illnesses that are also common right now. Doctors identify the respiratory syncytial virus as causing quite a few cases at this time as well.
In fact, the California Department of Public Health Influenza Surveillance Program explains that during the last week of 2012, 7.9 percent of patients seeking help for flulike symptoms actually presented with the disease. Of these, 86.7 percent suffered from influenza A while the remainder had influenza B. A small percentage of this group presented with the 2009 H1 strain while only 28 percent showed tested positive for the H3 strain.
The Los Angeles Daily News has reported that Southern California is just now experiencing the initial impact of the flu epidemic. Although at this time the hospital visits reported by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health primarily deal with respiratory illnesses that have locals worried, there is some evidence that flu activity is also beginning to send more patients to doctors and hospitals.
Is it too late for Californians to get vaccinated?
Doctors explain that the flu season may continue until May. It is therefore not too late to get a flu shot or receive the nasal mist spray vaccine.
What do officials say about the flu's impact on California?
As noted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, California was designated as a state of minimal activity at the end of the first week in January. Even so, state officials did report regional influenza activity to the federal authorities.
Have there been flu deaths?
The Sacramento Bee reports that two flu-related deaths occurred in the Sacramento area at the end of 2012. The Orange County Register reports on two deaths in the Orange County area.
Sylvia Cochran is a Los Angeles area resident with a firm finger on the pulse of California politics. Talk radio junkie, community volunteer and politically independent, she scrutinizes the good and the bad from both sides of the political aisle.
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