6 die of flu in 2 weeks in SB County
By Santa Ynez Valley Star Staff · Tue Mar 17 2020
Staff Report
Six people, all 65 or older, have died from the flu in Santa Barbara County in the past two weeks, according to the county Public Health Department.
By comparison, three people died during the entire flu season last year.
“The current numbers exceed where we were at this time during the 2009-10 H1N1 pandemic. What we are seeing is unprecedented compared to the last 10 years of influenza seasons,” said Dr. Charity Dean, Santa Barbara County Public Health Officer.
The predominant strain this season is H3N2, which causes more severe disease, more hospitalizations and more deaths, officials said.
However, most people with the flu will have more moderate symptoms and will recover within about a week without medical treatment, by resting and drinking plenty of fluids to stay hydrated.
To prevent the spread of flu and preserve more time care for patients who are experiencing extreme illness and life-threatening conditions, Cottage Hospital is asking people to avoid coming to the emergency department unless they are suffering from serious symptoms or complications.
A Cottage spokesman said the emergency department may have long wait times due to the high volume of patients.
The risk of life-threatening flu is especially great for the very young and the elderly. Pregnant women and those with underlying health conditions are also at higher risk.
People in a high-risk group are advised to call their primary-care doctor or clinic at the first sign of flu symptoms to determine whether they might benefit from antiviral medication that can shorten the duration and severity of the flu. It is important to consult a pediatrician before providing any medication to young children.
Severe flu symptoms include: