There are 30,000 confirmed cases of influenza already this season in San Diego County. To compare, there were 13,000 total cases back in 2021.
SAN DIEGO — A fourth San Diego teenager has died from the flu, marking the highest number in recent years, according to the County of San Diego.
None of the teens had received the flu shot and two of the four teens did not have any underlying health conditions. They were healthy and died from the flu, just a few days later. CBS 8 spoke with doctors who stressed what a bad flu season the county is in.
They say the virus is sweeping the nation and it will remain highly contagious for at least another month.
“We are reaching numbers we have not seen for several seasons,” Mark Beatty, the County’s Assistant Medical Director within Epidemiology and Immunization Services, said.
There are 30,000 confirmed cases of influenza this season in San Diego County. To compare, there were 13,000 total cases back in 2021. This year, 105 people have died including four teenagers. Typically there are one to two teen deaths in an entire year.
“Being a parent and a pediatrician, it’s always disturbing,” Beatty said.
The County confirmed the deaths saying a healthy multi-race 14-year-old girl from South County died, as well as a healthy multi-race 17-year-old girl from inland North County, a 15-year-old Hispanic boy from coastal North County, who had underlying conditions and a Black 16-year-old boy from coastal North County, also with underlying conditions.
CBS 8 asked the Medical Director of Infectious Diseases at Rady Children’s Hospital when people should see a doctor.
“When you need to see someone is if you have persistent fevers, because that could mean another type of bacterial infection or they have difficulty breathing or just not acting right,” Dr. Alice Pong said.
Again only two of our local teens had underlying medical conditions and none were vaccinated. Vaccination rates are down countywide. 997,000 shots have been administered so far – compared to more than one million in 2024. The flu shot takes about a week to kick in and is typically 40-50% effective in preventing serious outcomes.
“It’s not too late to vaccinate, stay home from school if you’re sick, wash your hands – everything we told you through COVID works for the flu,” Dr. Pong added.
Out of the 105 people who have died from the flu in our county, the majority were over the age 50. The teenagers who died did all eventually go to the hospital, but it was too late.
“All Emergency Rooms and Urgent Cares are very busy, lines are very long,” Dr. Pong said.
This flu cycle has officially killed more teens than through the entire pandemic. All through COVID, there were three teenagers who died and now, the flu has taken four young people.
