Napa County reports first flu death of season

Napa County on Friday reported its first influenza-associated death for the winter flu season.

The news follows last week’s report of the season’s first flu death in Sonoma County.

As in Sonoma, the Napa adult who died was identified simply as someone younger than 65 who died from complications of influenza early this month, according to Napa County public health officials.

The department noted that under state law, influenza deaths are only reportable to the local public health authority when they occur in individuals under age 65. Such an approach “means that reports will underestimate flu deaths actually occurring in a community,” the Napa public health release said.

Flu activity has increased sharply within the past few weeks in Napa County, including an “outbreak of influenza” at a long-term care facility, according to the department.

The peak of the season may occur in late January or early February.