Nearly a dozen people die from flu on Central Coast

UPDATE: 1/26/2018 11:28 a.m. This years flu outbreak has taken the lives of nearly a dozen people on the Central Coast.

According to health officials, 6 people have died from the flu in Monterey County, 3 in Santa Cruz County, and 2 in San Benito County.

State health officials raised the death toll of Californians under 65 who have succumbed to the disease to 97.

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1/18/2018 12:18 p.m. The flu virus has spread across the nation and taken the lives of eight people here on the Central Coast.

Monterey County health officials told KION they are investigating another flu related death this week.

The flu has now taken the lives of two people in San Benito County, two in Santa Cruz County and four in Monterey County.

Santa Cruz County Health Officer, Dr. Arnold Leff said he’s uncertain if we’ve hit the peak of flu season.

“It’s worrisome, If we haven’t hit peak yet we are already 50 percent higher than we normally would be and we will have a lot more trouble,” said Dr. Leff.

At least 27 people have died from the flu across California. Health officials said the best way to prevent the flu is to get vaccinated.

Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare Systems is partnering with Monterey County Health Department to offer free flu vaccines to people who haven’t been vaccinated this season.

The flu clinic will be Saturday 1/13 between 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at SVMHS.

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1/11/18 2:50: San Benito County confirms another flu death.

One of these individuals was an adult under the age of 65 years, and the other was over 65. Both had other medical conditions possibly increasing the risk of severe complications from the flu.
——————————————————————————————————————————-Santa Cruz County and San Benito County officials confirm with KION, they have each seen one flu related death this season.

The person from Santa Cruz County was in their 60s, and passed away last week. This was the first and only known case in the county this season, according to officials.

San Benito County official say there has been one death confirmed in their county as well. The person who died was a female under the age of 65.

It comes in the wake of a country-wide flu outbreak impacting the state of California. At least 27 people have died in California. As we previously reported, there have been two flu deaths in Monterey County bringing the total on the Central Coast to 4.

The Centers for Disease Control said there is widespread flu activity across the country and California is no exception. Health officials said Tuesday that flu season started a month earlier than usual and it’s more serious with doctor’s office visits, hospitalizations and deaths all increasing.

“It’s possible that the number is higher because the season started earlier so we’re further into the season,” said Dr. James Watt, chief of the Division of Communicable Disease Control for CDPH. “It’s also possible that this is going to be a higher year for deaths. That’s something we’re going to need to continue to monitor.”