Flu kills 302 in California: Are we winning the fight?

Flu has claimed at least 302 lives in California to date. To put in perspective, only 34 deaths were reported from flu-related causes, around the same time last year. Definitely not a good sign for the pregnant women, the elderly, the infants and those with other health conditions that weaken their immune systems

This week the total confirmed number of deaths from the flu in California rose to 302. Six of the reported deaths were children.

On Friday, twenty-four flu deaths were confirmed, marking a drop from late January and early February when an average of 50 people died each week.

After an early start, this year's flu season appears to be waning. This week outpatient visits in California continued to drop.

Thirty four flu fatalities had been reported this time last year. There were 106 deaths over the course of that entire flu season.

The numbers this year mark the highest toll since the H1N1 pandemic of 2009. That year 539 people under the age of 65 died of flu-related causes in California. It was also the first year that particular flu strain surfaced in the U.S., causing the first global pandemic in over 40 years, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. There was no vaccine for the strain at the time.

While officials expressed concern over the number of fatalities, they also noted that the numbers have dropped in the last week. They said that most Californians under 65 who have died from the flu this season also had underlying health conditions.

The CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report released Feb. 20 indicates that the flu has hit harder now than in prior seasons. This is partially due to the fact that not as many people have gotten flu shots this year. The situation is particularly bad for younger adults.

"By November, only a third of 18 to 64-year-olds had been vaccinated," said CDC Director Thomas Frieden in a press briefing. "That's one of the reasons we're seeing a much higher proportion of hospitalizations and deaths among 18 to 64-year-olds than we generally see."

Another reason for the large number of flu cases this year is that young and middle-aged adults might not have been previously exposed to this year's strains. Accordingly, older people might be less at risk, given that they are more likely to have residual immunity from past afflictions.

The flu shot, however, does appear to be working for those who have been vaccinated. The CDC says it's still not too late to get a shot, with one month left to go in the flu season. People at the highest risk for the flu are pregnant women, the elderly, infants and those with other health conditions.