Los Angeles County had higher influenza activity in the 2017–18 season (Oct. 1, 2017–May 13, 2018) than the previous five influenza seasons, according to public health officials’ Influenza Season Summary.
Peak activity occurred during week 52 of 2017 (Dec. 24–30, 2017) when 50 percent of respiratory specimens tested by sentinel labs were positive for influenza.
In addition, syndromic surveillance detected the highest proportion of visits to emergency departments for influenza-like-illness (ILI) during that same week.
This season also saw the greatest number of influenza-associated deaths reported since these deaths became reportable in the county. The greatest weekly number of influenza-associated deaths (54) occurred during week 1 (Dec. 31, 2017–Jan. 6, 2018).
Of the positive influenza test results we received during the 2017–18 season, 66 percent were influenza A viruses.
A total of 278 influenza-associated deaths were confirmed in Los Angeles County in the 2017-2018 season, more deaths than in any season since LAC initiated mandatory reporting. (This number may change as more information becomes available.)
The majority of deaths (79 percent) occurred in those 65 years of age and older (219), which is consistent with other Influenza A H3N2 predominant seasons that more severely affect the 65 and older population.
During Influenza A H3N2 seasons, the 65+ age group accounts for a greater proportion of IADs compared to influenza A H1N1 predominant seasons.
For more details, read the complete season summary here.
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