LA County Confirms Flu Death Of Pregnant Woman, Unborn Child

CBSLA.com) ^ | February 20, 2014 4:10 PM

[BenLurkin]

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — A pregnant South Bay woman and her unborn child are the latest victims of the flu, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health said Thursday.

“This sad event demonstrates that serious complications can occur with flu infection in pregnant women,” said Dr. Jonathan E. Fielding.

A total of 52 confirmed deaths have been linked to the flu this season in LA County and more than 200 have died in California.

The total number of deaths reported for the entire 2012-2013 influenza season was 106.

The CDPH recommends all residents, ages six months and older, get the seasonal flu shot or nasal vaccine in additions to basic hygiene, such as hand washing, to prevent the spread of the virus.

Those at highest risk — elderly people, pregnant women, infants and those with other health conditions — who show flu symptoms should contact their physician immediately in order to get the most effective treatment.

Symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle or body aches, headaches and fatigue.

[hinckley buzzard]

This is incompetent and dangerous reporting. This year's flu has as its targets not the aged and infants and infirm but the healthy middle ager--like the Spanish flu of 1918.

[skeeter]

Based upon the antidotes I’ve been hearing it seems like this flu season was far worse than has been reported.

[bigheadfred]

I had this flu. I am 52. Just when I thought it couldn’t get worse it got worse.

We had a friend that died from it. He was 63.

[Steely Tom]

Based upon the antidotes I’ve been hearing it seems like this flu season was far worse than has been reported.

LOL!

[AnAmericanInEngland]

The people least likely to go to a doctor. Except for pregnant middle aged persons, who are usually under doctor care.

[goodwithagun]

Just popped an extra probiotic. I’ll give the kids an extra one tomorrow, as they are now (praise all that is holy) sleeping.

[Ditter]

My husband and I are just now recovering from the flu. WE have had flu many times before but this one was different. It started just like a little head cold that you get over in a few days. Instead it gets worse and a few more days and your fever is up, your chest is congested and the body aches begin. This comes on gradually over about a week and then for a week you think you are going to crack your ribs coughing. We both had flu shots in Oct so this is a variety that was not included in the vaccine. Fortunately we saw our doctor and got started on antibiotics quickly.

[exDemMom]

Unfortunately, pregnant women have suppressed immune systems (probably so they don’t have an immune reaction against their babies). This causes pregnant women to be more prone to any infectious disease than other people.

For this reason, pregnant women are strongly recommended to get the influenza vaccine.

[exDemMom]

This year’s flu vaccine contained the H1N1 pandemic virus that is causing so many deaths this year. It also contained an H3N2 and an influenza B virus.

These are not the only circulating influenza viruses; they’re the ones predicted to be the most prevalent. It is very likely that you and your husband got sick with a virus strain that was not included in the vaccine.

I get the flu vaccine every year. I do not recall ever having the flu.

[exDemMom]

The reporting is accurate. In any given year, several strains of influenza are circulating. The strain that is seriously infecting an unusual number of young teens and adults this year is the H1N1, the one that caused the pandemic in 2009. The Spanish influenza in 1918 was also an H1N1 virus, but was far more deadly.

[fieldmarshaldj]

Sad. RIP.

[goodnesswins]

Y’all taking your 5000-10000iu of vitamin D3?...especially higher if you get sick.

[Ditter]

In the 60’s and 70’s we lived in a small Texas town. Every year the whole town was devastated by the flu. I have a theory, the highschool kids were not required to take the spring finals if the had not missed a single day all year. They went to school sick and the flu spread.

Vaccines did not have a killed virus at the time so we never took it. That is the many times that I have had the flu that I mentioned. We have not had the flu since we began taking the vaccine the last 20+ years. Not until this one and like I said it was different.

[Paleo Conservative]

Fortunately we saw our doctor and got started on antibiotics quickly.

Antibiotics do nothing for the flu except contribute to antibiotic resistance of bacteria. Influenza is a viral disease not a bacterial disease.

[exDemMom]

They went to school sick and the flu spread.

That is very possible. When I worked in a hospital, the rules were very strict about not going to work when sick, so as not to risk infecting the patients.

[GOP Poet]

Yep. Got it now. Odd thing for me is that a few weeks before getting the initial (cold) part of it that turned crazy on me (laryngitis, bad cough etc), I was exhausted for a good week. I thought that was the sickness without any symptoms except exhaustion. Thus now I have this monster with all of its symptoms and as a very healthy 47 year old, I have been on my back for nearly a month now. Yeah. This is a bad one. I usually don’t get sick and when I do I am well pretty quickly. I’ll be happy to be better next week, but at this point can’t be sure of anything.

[workerbee]

I get the flu vaccine every year. I do not recall ever having the flu.

I've never gotten the flu vaccine. I do not recall ever having the flu.

[Bulwyf]

Same here, no flu shots for myself or my family, and no flu.

[Ditter]

Yes I realize that flu is viral but when you are coughing up yellow chunks of mucus it has gone past a virus and it is now bacterial. Your doctor knows the difference. People who die of the “flu” are dying of bacterial pneumonia that was brought on by the viral flu.