Flu cases in California children raise concerns as virus spreads at high rate

Zoom in: Flu test positivity here was "very high" for the week ending on Feb. 8, with the rate nearing 27%, the latest state data shows.

• California's rate of flu-related deaths, which had hovered around a peak of 1.5% in the four years prior, also shot up to more than 3% that week.
• The increase follows an upward trend in flu cases and hospitalizations over the last few weeks, according to California Department of Public Health director Erica Pan.

What they're saying: "The two predominant strains that are circulating right now are known to be more severe and have more severe outcomes, especially in high-risk patients" with pre-existing conditions, Carol McLay, president of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, told Axios.

• "It's really clogging up our ERs and our outpatient facilities. And for the first time, we've seen cases of influenza that have surpassed COVID-19 in hospitalizations and deaths, since the COVID pandemic began," she said.

Yes, but: Fewer Californians have received the seasonal flu vaccine than in years past despite the sustained level of flu activity across the site, CDPH notes.

Between the lines: Rates of seasonal flu vaccination have been falling nationwide in recent years for some groups, including children.

• Compounding the problem is the fact that this year's flu vaccine was less effective than in a typical year.

The big picture: This flu activity is classified as a "high-severity" season, with estimates of at least 29 million cases nationwide — the most since the 2009-2010 flu season, according to the latest CDC data.

• There have been at least 370,000 hospitalizations and 16,000 deaths from the flu as of Feb. 8, per the CDC. That's on a pace to surpass the previous high recorded during the 2017-2018 flu season.
• "It's lots of more severe illnesses. Of the adults that are being hospitalized, most of them are having pneumonia and requiring intubation and ventilation," McLay said.

Threat level: Of particular concern is the severity being seen in kids this year. There have also been reports of a limited number of pediatric cases with serious neurological complications associated with the flu.

• 68 kids have died from flu-related illnesses nationwide, and California accounts for roughly 16% of those deaths.
• Pediatric flu deaths hit a record 200 last year, and this season is shaping up to be worse, said Matthew Cook, president and CEO of Children's Hospital Association.

The bottom line: There are a lot of respiratory viruses still going around this season. If you haven't gotten the vaccine yet, it's still prudent to get one, experts urge.

• "There is no doubt, the data is out there. If you are vaccinated ... even if you do get the flu, it is much less severe and it prevents you from being hospitalized and, obviously, prevents death as well," McLay said. "It's not too late."