The 2024-25 flu season has become increasingly deadly in San Diego County, according to the latest weekly tracking report, which recorded 19 additional flu-related deaths, including that of a 16-year-old girl.
The county’s death toll has now reached 150, more than double the total from the previous flu season and over three times the average of 44 deaths seen in the prior five seasons.
While overall flu case numbers and emergency department visits related to the flu are declining from January’s peak, the severity of the illness remains a concern. The median age of those who died was 79, with 118 having underlying medical conditions. Of those who died, 99 were not vaccinated against the flu, and vaccination status was unknown for 13.
Five teenagers have died from the flu this season, a significantly higher number than the typical one or two teen deaths annually. The most recent teen death was a 16-year-old girl from inland North County who died on Feb. 11. She did not have underlying medical conditions and was not vaccinated.
Last week, the county health department reported 1,224 new flu cases, bringing the season total to 34,192, nearly double the 19,035 cases reported during the entire 2023-24 season. Emergency department visits related to the flu decreased to 6 percent last week, down from 9 percent two weeks prior, but still above the five-year average of 4 percent.
