San Diego flu outbreak — Early surge leads to 8 deaths and rising hospitalizations

The San Diego flu outbreak is hitting the county earlier than usual, leading to a significant increase in hospitalizations and deaths as health officials urge residents to get vaccinated ahead of the winter season.

According to KPBS reports and the San Diego County respiratory virus surveillance report, eight flu-related deaths were recorded between the start of the season on July 5 and October 3. This figure is four times higher than the average of two deaths reported during the same period in previous seasons. All deceased individuals were over the age of 50, and six of them had not received the flu vaccine.

Surging Hospitalizations and Early Activity

Hospitalizations have also surged dramatically, with cumulative flu-related hospitalizations reaching 262 cases—about 3.6 times higher than the 72 cases recorded during the same period last year. During the week ending October 3 alone, 58 patients were hospitalized, and the test positivity rate reached 8.0%, a sharp increase from 0.7% a year ago. While flu activity in the county typically peaks in early November, this year’s early spread is predominantly driven by the H1N1 influenza A virus.

Dr. Sayone Thihalolipavan, San Diego County deputy public health officer, noted that while the exact cause of the early surge remains unclear, the currently circulating strains are included in this year’s vaccine. He emphasized that vaccination remains crucial, as it helps reduce symptom severity even if an infection occurs.

Health Officials Urge Vaccination

Health officials warn that hospitalizations may continue to rise in the coming weeks. A predictive tool developed by the county in collaboration with UC San Diego’s “Resilient Shield” program forecasted an increase in hospitalizations over the two weeks following the report, though this short-term projection does not reflect the total scale of the upcoming season.

The county health department strongly recommends that all residents aged 6 months and older receive the flu shot, urging people to get vaccinated by the end of October. Vaccines are widely available at healthcare providers, local pharmacies, and county public health centers.