The flu is hitting CA hard this season. Here are things you need to know

Support for LAist comes from

Podcasts AirTalk

LIVE COVERAGE: Listen now to NPR's live coverage of SCOTUS's hearing of Trump vs. the U.S.

This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.

This archival content was originally written for and published on KPCC.org. Keep in mind that links and images may no longer work — and references may be outdated.

Jan 9, 2018

Listen • 12:22

The flu is hitting CA hard this season. Here are things you need to know

Southern CA emergency rooms are handling a deluge of flu patients.

OAKLAND, CA - DECEMBER 19: A woman receives a free flu shot from a Walgreens employee during a free flu shot clinic at Allen Temple Baptist Church on December 19, 2014 in Oakland, California. Oakland residents received no cost flu shots during a flu shot clinic at Allen Temple Baptist Church. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Southern CA emergency rooms are handling a deluge of flu patients.

Southern California emergency rooms are handling a deluge of flu patients.

Public health officials were optimistic this year’s vaccine would match up well with arriving strains. Regardless, a lot of folks are getting sick. The California Department of Health (CDPH) provided an update earlier today on the flu season this morning.

Larry speaks with Dr. James Watt, the chief at the Division of Communicable Disease Control at CDPH on what we know about this flu season.

Guest:

James Watt, MD, MPH, Chief, Division of Communicable Disease Control at the Center for Infectious Diseases with the California Department of Public Health

Credits