San Diego County teenagers continue to pay a high price during the current flu season, with a fourth influenza-related death appearing in county records this week. That’s one more death among those ages 12 to 19 than died during the entire COVID-19 pandemic, underlining the risks that flu season can bring, even to young people.
The county health department confirmed Thursday afternoon that a Black 16-year-old from coastal North County died Feb. 2 after he became infected with type-A flu. Other health conditions were present at the time of death. Like the other three teens who have died after a flu infection during the 2024-2025 season, the youth was not vaccinated.
Flu-related teen deaths are rare, with most seasons registering one or two in a 12-month span.
Thus far, a total of 105 San Diego County residents have died since July 1, 2024, with an age range of 14 to 101 years.
The county’s COVID-19 data website lists a total of nine COVID-related pediatric deaths for the entire pandemic. Six were age 11 or younger, one was in the 12-to-18 age group and two were 19 year olds.
According to the latest San Diego County respiratory virus report, released Thursday, flu continues to impact local medical providers. Last week, 11 percent of local emergency department visits showed possible flu symptoms. While that number was 2 percentage points lower than it was two weeks ago, it was still nearly three times the prior five-season average of 4 percent.
Local public health officials continue to encourage residents to get their flu vaccinations even though it is relatively late in the season.
Through Saturday, Feb. 8, the county’s vaccination registry recorded 997,449 vaccinations administered, slightly behind last season’s total of 1.05 million and more than 150,000 doses behind the 1.16 million administered during the 2022-2023 season.
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