The first influenza death of the season has been reported by the County Health and Human Services Agency.
On Aug. 15 a 74-year-old man from Chula Vista died from Influenza B and an underlying medical condition, according to the County Health and Human Services Agency.
Although the county can not disclose the man’s medical condition Communications Specialist José Álvarez said issues such as high blood pressure, heart disease and lung disease can cause complications with influenza.
So far the county has reported 106 lab-confirmed flu cases. During the same time last year, 26 cases had been reported, and 114 cases the year before, according to the County Health and Human Services Agency.
Although the county monitors cases year round, the height of influenza season is usually late October through May, Álvarez said.
Álvarez also said that the county monitors the virus using information from hospitals to determine lab-confirmed cases, reports of what emergency rooms are doing in terms of people with influenza symptoms and how many confirmed influenza deaths there are in the county.
The county also sends out a weekly Influenza watch report during the height of flu season to the medical community, Álvarez said.
“The main thing is getting vaccinated,” Álvarez said. “Wash [your] hands on a regular basis, stay home if sick.”
The influenza vaccine is currently not widely available, but Álvarez said people can use the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Flu Vaccine Finder to find centers in their area or call ahead.
