Los Angeles County had higher influenza activity in the 2017–18 flu season than the previous five seasons, according to the Department of Public Health.
Sponsored Articles
Last year’s flu season saw 278 deaths from Oct. 1, 2017– May 13, 2018, making it the deadliest flu season since LA County initiated mandatory reporting in 2010, according to an “Influenza Season Summary” released this month.
Peak activity occurred during the last week of December, when 50 percent of respiratory specimens tested by sentinel labs were positive for influenza, according to county documents.
See Related: Free Flu Shots Available For Santa Clarita Residents Without Insurance
In addition, that December week also had the highest proportion of visits to emergency departments for influenza-like-illness (ILI).
This past season also saw the greatest number of influenza-associated deaths reported since these deaths became reportable in the county.
The majority of deaths, 79 percent, occurred in those 65 years of age and older, which is consistent with all Influenza strains that more severely affect the 65 and older population.
For more details, read the complete season summary here.
Report a typo or error, email Corrections@hometownstation.com
KHTS FM 98.1 and AM 1220 is Santa Clarita’s only local radio station. KHTS mixes in a combination of news, traffic, sports, and features along with your favorite adult contemporary hits. Santa Clarita news and features are delivered throughout the day over our airwaves, on our website and through a variety of social media platforms. Our KHTS national award-winning daily news briefs are now read daily by 34,000+ residents. A vibrant member of the Santa Clarita community, the KHTS broadcast signal reaches all of the Santa Clarita Valley and parts of the high desert communities located in the Antelope Valley. The station streams its talk shows over the web, reaching a potentially worldwide audience. Follow @KHTSRadio on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.