The County Health and Human Services Agency reported another eight people in San Diego lost their lives to the flu, bringing the season total to 62 flu-related deaths.
More people have died from the flu this year than the same time last year, according to the agency. At this time last year, 58 people had died, but 70 lost their lives to the illness for all of the 2013-2014 season.
There were 65 deaths the year before that, they said, making the last three flu seasons the deadliest since the agency began keep track.
According to HHSA, 4 percent of emergency room trips were for flu-like illness, down from 6 percent the week before. There were 330 confirmed cases of the flu in the county this week, down nearly 50 percent from 644 the prior week.
County Public Health Officer Wilma Wooten, M.D., M.P.H. said the flu cases seem to be dropping, but prevention is still the best attack.
“While influenza activity appears to be decreasing, people should continue to take precautionary measures to avoid getting sick,” Wooten said. “Most people recuperate from the flu easily, but in some cases influenza can be deadly.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the best way to prevent the flu is to get vaccinated. They suggest everyone over six months old should get a flu shot annually, especially those with chronic medical conditions such as asthma or lung disease, pregnant women and elderly people over the age of 65 years old.
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Those who live with or take care of high-risk people should also get a flu shot.
For information on where to get vaccinated, click here or call 211.
