While Flu Positivity Drops to 13.4 Percent in California, Flu Deaths Are Rising with a Total of 1,323 Deaths So Far!
Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Mar 19, 2025 3 hours, 53 minutes ago
U.S. Medical News:
Flu Deaths Continue to Climb Despite a Decline in Positivity Rates
The flu season in California has been particularly deadly this year, with the virus claiming 1,323 lives as of March 8, including 19 children. While flu positivity rates have dropped to 13.4 percent, health officials remain alarmed at the persistently high death toll. The season has been marked by a sharp rise in fatalities, making it one of the deadliest in recent years.
While Flu Positivity Drops to 13.4 Percent in California, Flu Deaths Are Rising with a Total of 1,323 Deaths So Far!
This
U.S. Medical News report highlights the alarming reality that, for the first time since 2020, flu deaths in California have surpassed COVID-19 fatalities. According to the latest report from the state health department, the flu death rate appears to be slowing slightly. Last week, 86 new deaths were reported, a decrease from the 140 to 190 weekly deaths recorded over the previous month. However, this decline does little to ease concerns, as the flu continues to pose a significant threat to public health.
A Look at Historical Flu Trends
California's flu season has been historically severe, with past seasons claiming tens of thousands of lives nationwide. Since 2003, pediatric flu deaths have been closely monitored, with the 2008-2009 season recording the highest toll on children at 37 deaths. In the past decade, particularly deadly flu seasons across the U.S. have seen as many as 50,000 deaths. The 2014-2015 flu season recorded approximately 51,000 fatalities, while the 2017-2018 season saw an even higher number at around 52,000. This year’s flu season, with its alarming number of deaths, is shaping up to be one of the most lethal in recent memory. As of early February 2025, figures show that about 13,000 Americans have so far died from flu in this year’s season.
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/13000-americans-have-died-in-this-ongoing-flu-season-according-to-u-s-cdc-with-colorado-among-hardest-hit
Data and figures that are still being consolidated indicate that the total deaths from flu infections in the whole of the United States for the total 2024/2025 season is likely to cross to over 23,000!
https://www.cdc.gov/fluview/surveillance/2025-week-10.html
Weekly Respiratory Virus Report Provides Insight
The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) releases weekly updates on respiratory viruses, including COVID-19, influenza, and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). These reports offer crucial insights into trends in flu positivity rates, hospitalization numbers, and overall mortality rates.
For the week of March 2 to March 8, 2025, the report indicated:<
;br />
-Flu test positivity: 13.4%, a decrease of 2.9% from the previous week
-Flu-related new admissions per 100,000 persons: 2.4, down by 1.2
-Flu-related deaths as a percentage of total deaths: 0.7%, a decline of 0.6% from the previous week
-Total season pediatric flu deaths: 19, with one new pediatric fatality reported this week
The report also notes that while flu activity is still categorized as moderate, it continues to decline. Meanwhile, RSV activity remains low, and COVID-19 activity is reported to be at low levels as well. However, experts emphasize that these figures do not fully represent the entire state’s public health situation, as the report does not cover all areas of California.
Low Vaccination Rates Remain a Concern
One of the major concerns highlighted in the CDPH report is the low vaccination rate among Californians. Health officials stress that many eligible individuals have not received the recommended flu, COVID-19, and RSV vaccines, which could have helped mitigate the severity of the outbreak. The current season has been dominated by influenza type A, with both H1 and H3 strains circulating widely. Influenza type B, on the other hand, accounts for less than 5% of positive cases.
The Importance of Continued Vigilance
While the flu positivity rate has dropped, the rising number of fatalities underscores the importance of continued vigilance. Health experts urge Californians to take preventive measures such as getting vaccinated, practicing good hygiene, and seeking medical attention promptly if flu symptoms appear.
Vulnerable populations, including young children, the elderly, and those with underlying health conditions, remain at the highest risk.
In conclusion, the flu season in California has proven to be both deadly and unpredictable. Although recent data suggests a slight decline in flu activity, the state has already recorded over 1,300 deaths, making it one of the worst seasons in years. The rise in fatalities, despite a drop in positivity rates, highlights the need for increased awareness, vaccination efforts, and timely medical intervention. As the season progresses, public health officials will continue to monitor the situation closely.
The latest Weekly Respiratory Virus Report by the California Department of Public Health can be found here:
https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/CDPH%20Document%20Library/Respiratory-Viruses/Respiratory-Virus-Report/RespiratoryVirusReportWeek10.pdf
https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/RespiratoryVirusReport.aspx
For the latest
U.S. Medical News, keep on logging to Thailand Medical News.
Read Also:
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/french-health-authorities-warn-of-rising-invasive-meningococcal-infections-across-the-country
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/as-autumn-starts-in-australia-covid-19-cases-gradually-starting-to-rise
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/oregon-faces-its-worst-flu-season-in-15-years
https://www.thailandmedical.news/pages/thailand_doctors_listings
Share
Tweet
Share
