California 2012-13 Season: Weeks 46-36 (One Pediatric Death Reported; Total 14)

[Missouriwatcher]

Re: California 2012-13 Season: Weeks 46-11 (Five New Adult Deaths; Total 52)

Week 11: Regional
5 new adult (under age 65) deaths; total 52 (three of which were pediatric)

ILI: 2.5%
16.7% positive for influenza; majority B
P&I hospitalizations: 5.9%
CDPH received 8 reports of laboratory-confirmed outbreaks during Week 11; total 126.

http://www.cdph.ca.gov/HealthInfo/discond/Pages/Influenza%28Flu%29.aspx

[Missouriwatcher]

Re: California 2012-13 Season: Weeks 46-12 (Eight New Adult Deaths; Total 60)

Week 12: Local
8 new adult (under age 65) deaths; total 60 (three of which were pediatric)

ILI: 2.3%
12.2% positive for influenza; majority B
CDPH received 6 reports of laboratory-confirmed outbreaks during Week 12; total 132.

http://www.cdph.ca.gov/HealthInfo/discond/Pages/Influenza%28Flu%29.aspx

[tetano]

San Diego sees record number of flu deaths, may be due to H3N2

The number of influenza-related deaths in San Diego has hit 60, breaking the record of 58 fatalities seen during the 2009-2010 H1N1 pandemic, according to a San Diego County news release April 3.

According to county health officials, most of the deaths have been seen in elderly people with underlying health conditions. Although most cases have been seen in the elderly population, other people like pregnant women and children are also at higher risk of serious complications.

..

http://www.examiner.com/article/san-diego-sees-record-number-of-flu-deaths-may-be-due-to-h3n2

[Emily]

Re: San Diego sees record number of flu deaths, may be due to H3N2

Here's a PDF with the county stats:

SAN DIEGO COUNTY INFLUENZA SURVEILLANCE SUMMARY
Data Reported through 3/30/13 (week #13)
UPDATED 4/2/2013

There were 16 flu A and 36 flu B and 6 either A or B cases detected that week - no deaths reported that I can find for week 13, though total deaths for the season were 60. ER ILI's are currently trending down toward baseline.

San Diego County's population in 2012 was estimated to be about 3,177,063 out of a total population for the state of CA of 38,041,430.

[JimO]

Re: San Diego sees record number of flu deaths, may be due to H3N2

There were also three deaths from obituaries that were over age 65, which aren't reportable in California. Doubtless there were many more older patients who died, so the total is likely much higher.

[Emily]

Re: San Diego sees record number of flu deaths, may be due to H3N2

Thanks for the insight, Jim. I find CA's reporting policy a bit disturbing. I can understand the importance of considering age and disease status in evaluating the virulence of disease, but to totally dismiss all deaths over the age of 65? Is the state's reporting paperwork so onerous? Then the solution might be to streamline the task.

[Emily]

Re: San Diego sees record number of flu deaths, may be due to H3N2

I was looking closer at this wondering how San Diego compares to other CA counties and the state in general, and perhaps San Diego County might be doing a good job of reporting flu deaths for all age ranges looking at this nice 10-yr retrospective chart in their week 13 summary:



Then if you check the whole state of CA's summary of deaths:



So the state has a total of 62 reportable (under 65 yrs) deaths, and one county reports 60 deaths? - San Diego must be including seniors somehow. Or the chart is actually for the whole state, and it is possible to misinterpret the chart to represent San Diego only deaths as the media articles report the number.

The county does encourage (but not mandate) providers to report all influenza deaths, so either possibility could be true.

[JimO]

Re: San Diego sees record number of flu deaths, may be due to H3N2

I have tracked deaths by county in California and found that the state is way behind the counties with their numbers. Based on county and media reports, in addition to the State's report, I currently have a statewide total of 133. Other than San Diego, those with the highest are as follows:

Los Angeles - 26
Sacramento - 8
San Francisco - 7
Orange - 6

My total of 133 includes 7 over age 65 from obits (3 in San Diego, 3 in LA, and 1 in Santa Barbara). Perhaps San Diego County is reporting all deaths, which would bring my total to 130. But, the state is still well behind the counties with its tally.

[Emily]

Re: San Diego sees record number of flu deaths, may be due to H3N2

Thanks, Jim. I'm convinced that the San Diego County numbers are for deaths in their county, only. That is the way I would have interpreted the chart in the context of their summary, too. I was just surprised by how low the state count was. You have explained that.

LA looks like it must be only reporting under 65 yrs deaths, too. With LA county having about 3x the population of San Diego, it's hard to come up with another explanation for their count being so much lower.

[Missouriwatcher]

Re: California 2012-13 Season: Weeks 46-13 (Two New Adult Deaths; Total 62)

Week 13: Local
2 new adult (under age 65) deaths; total 62 (three of which were pediatric)

ILI: 2%
8.6% positive for influenza; majority B
P&I deaths: 5.1%
CDPH received 2 reports of laboratory-confirmed outbreaks during Week 13; total 134.

http://www.cdph.ca.gov/HealthInfo/discond/Pages/Influenza%28Flu%29.aspx

[Missouriwatcher]

Re: California 2012-13 Season: Weeks 46-14 (One New Pediatric and Three New Adult Deaths; Total 66)

Week 14: Sporadic
1 new pediatric and 3 new adult (under age 65) deaths; total 66 (four of which were pediatric)

ILI: 2%
7.4% positive for influenza; majority B
CDPH received 1 report of laboratory-confirmed outbreaks during Week 14; total 135.

http://www.cdph.ca.gov/HealthInfo/discond/Pages/Influenza%28Flu%29.aspx

[Missouriwatcher]

Re: California 2012-13 Season: Weeks 46-15 (One New Pediatric and Two New Adult Deaths; Total 69)

Week 15: Sporadic
1 new pediatric and 2 new adult (under age 65) deaths; total 69 (five of which were pediatric)

ILI: 1.9%
5.4% positive for influenza; majority B
P&I deaths: 5.2%
RSV: 5.6%

http://www.cdph.ca.gov/HealthInfo/discond/Pages/Influenza%28Flu%29.aspx

[Missouriwatcher]

Re: California 2012-13 Season: Weeks 46-16 (Six New Adult Deaths; Total 75)

Week 16: Sporadic
6 new adult (under age 65) deaths; total 75 (five of which were pediatric)

ILI: 0.9%
7.2% positive for influenza
P&I deaths: 4.7%
RSV: 4.2%

http://www.cdph.ca.gov/HealthInfo/discond/Pages/Influenza%28Flu%29.aspx

[Missouriwatcher]

Re: California 2012-13 Season: Weeks 46-18 (Nine New Deaths, Including Two Pediatric)

Weeks 17-18: Sporadic
9 new deaths, including 2 pediatric (website hasn't been listing totals for season); total 7 pediatric deaths

week 17, week 18
ILI: 1.4%, 1%
P&I hospitalizations: 4.4%, 4.1%
Percent positive for influenza (majority B): 3.5%, 2.1%
No new outbreaks; total 139 for season

http://www.cdph.ca.gov/HealthInfo/discond/Pages/Influenza%28Flu%29.aspx

[Missouriwatcher]

Re: California 2012-13 Season: Weeks 46-20 (Five New Deaths, Including Two Pediatric)

Weeks 19-20: Sporadic
5 new deaths, including 2 pediatric (website hasn't been listing totals for season); total 9 pediatric deaths

week 19, week 20
ILI: 1.%, 1%
P&I hospitalizations: 3.7%, 5.2%
Percent positive for influenza (majority B): 2.2%, 0.6%
2 new outbreaks; total 141 for season

http://www.cdph.ca.gov/HealthInfo/discond/Pages/Influenza%28Flu%29.aspx