Flu takes its toll on California residents

California's Department of Public Health reported Saturday that 30 people in the Bay Area, and 202 throughout the state, have died from the flu.

According to Bay City News Service, chief of the communicable disease control division at the public health department, Dr. James Watt, said the number of flu-related deaths would most likely change because it's still being determined whether an additional 41 statewide cases are linked to the flu.

These statewide deaths occurred in people under the age of 65, including four children. Out of the 202 who died, Watt says the California counties of Santa Clara, Alameda, Contra Costa, Monterey, Santa Cruz, Solano and San Francisco were affected.

The very familiar swine flu, or H1N1, is the main strain to look out for this flu season, and is actually causing more deaths than it had in prior seasons. State figures show that 18 deaths had been reported as being flu-related this time last year, and there were only 106 cases in total for last year's entire season, compared to the 202 reported thus far.

Despite the high numbers being reported, Watt is optimistic, saying that these flu-related deaths should decrease due to the fact that most people contracted it at the season's beginning, and especially with the flu season almost at its end.

Health officials encourage at-risk people - including the elderly, pregnant women, infants or people with existing health conditions - experiencing flu-like symptoms to speak to a doctor immediately.

The public health department says there are plenty of vaccines to go around, and California residents should not hesitate to get properly vaccinated.