Two More Flu Deaths in Santa Clara County

As flu season continues this winter, Santa Clara County reported two more flu-related deaths Friday, bringing the county total to six and the Bay Area total to 23.

Two women, ages 52 and 62, passed away this week from the H1N1 virus, Santa Clara County Public Health Department spokeswoman Amy Cornell said.

In addition to the deaths, there have also been 15 people who have been hospitalized with severe cases of the flu, according to Cornell.

Statewide, there have been 45 confirmed influenza deaths and 50 more suspected cases as of Jan. 11, according to Dr. Gil Chavez, deputy director and state epidemiologist with the Department of Public Health's Center for Infectious Diseases. 

There were 106 flu deaths in California during the 2012-2013 season, Chavez said. He also said that the flu season has not yet peaked. 

"We are clearly in the midst of what appears to be an earlier peaking, severe flu season, and I encourage everyone who has not yet gotten a flu vaccination to do so," California Department of Public Health director Dr. Ron Chapman said.

The state public health department has purchased 50,000 doses for local health departments. There are also 290,000 federally purchased doses via the Vaccines for Children program, with the doses available for local health departments or private providers, according to the Department of Public Health.

State officials are also telling people to stay home if they have any flu-like symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue.

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