With flu season in full swing, Riverside County public well being officers are urging residents to get their vaccines and to take different precautions in opposition to respiratory viruses after reporting the county’s first two flu-related deaths this winter.
The deaths embrace a 73-year-old man and a 79-year-old girl from mid- and western Riverside County, respectively. Each had underlying well being points and died at native hospitals, in accordance with county officers. No additional info was instantly supplied.
Final month, Los Angeles County confirmed its first flu loss of life of the season. The deceased was an aged resident with a number of underlying situations and had no document of influenza vaccination this season, in accordance with county well being officers.
In accordance with Riverside County’s weekly influenza surveillance report, present influenza-like diseases exercise ranges are reasonable within the space. The county usually logs individuals aged 65 and older as the majority of pneumonia and influenza deaths within the county with few occurring amongst these 24 and youthful. Knowledge collected between Nov. 19-25 present pneumonia contributed to the majority of deaths, which had been largely affected by different ailments resembling COVID-19.
“These tragedies remind us that influenza will be critical, particularly for individuals who have well being points or weakened immune programs,” Dr. Geoffrey Leung, public well being officer for Riverside County, mentioned in an announcement. “There are easy steps that may be taken to guard ourselves. Most essential of those is to get vaccinated. We suggest that everybody over 6 months of age obtain the flu vaccine.”
Respiratory viruses such because the flu and COVID-19 unfold year-round however are extra frequent in the USA between October and March. The virus is unfold by coughing and sneezing. Anybody is susceptible to catch the virus however aged individuals, youngsters and people with weakened immune programs are extra in danger.
Well being officers urge individuals to remain up-to-date on vaccines, stay at residence if sick, take into account sporting a face masks, cowl a cough or sneeze and wash arms all through the day.