2 Fresno County Residents Die from the Flu

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- The Valley flu season has taken a tragic turn. The Fresno County Health Department confirmed two people have died from complications of influenza infection.

Lab results revealed two men died of flu-related complications. They were the first two deaths of the flu season in Fresno County. The men were among ten people who have been admitted into intensive care because of severe conditions due to the flu. They weren't very old but doctors said they had some underlying factors which led to their deaths. That can include asthma, high blood pressure and diabetes.

David Luchini with the Fresno County Health Department said, "One death was a person in their forties and one was a person in their fifties. Both had chronic medical conditions that made them higher risk for serious complications from influenza. At this time one we still aren't sure of the flu vaccine this year but we know that one of the deaths did not get a flu vaccine."

Luchini said the deaths should remind people how serious the illness can be. He hoped more people will get a flu shot. He said, "When people see that people dying from influenza I think that does trigger people to take it more seriously and get vaccinated."

Last year was even more severe as 22 people in Fresno County died of the flu. The H1N1 strain hit younger people extremely hard. This year the H3N2 strain has been more prevalent.

Luchini explained, "When we see H3N2 we see typically the impact more with people over the age of 65."

Even though this year's flu shot hasn't been as effective as in years past. People are still urged to get vaccinated.

"Still recommend it," said Luchini. "Anything better than zero percent is better than zero right?"

Outside of a five week spike in flu cases, Fresno County health officials haven't seen anything unusual when it comes to this year's flu season.