Dr. Janice Louie is an influenza expert with the California
Department of Public Health. She says seasonal flu usually peaks
after the holidays. But this year:
"We have not seen any substantial seasonal flu activity."
Louie says during a pandemic flu outbreak the seasonal flu
strain can get bumped, so to speak. She says that's what happened
during the 1918 flu pandemic. But she says it's difficult to
predict what's next.
"We're waiting to see, the rest of the winter may be very quiet or we may start seeing some seasonal influenza and the associated illnesses and deaths with that."
Louie says seasonal flu is more deadly than the current H1N1
virus. She says more Californians than usual got the seasonal flu
vaccines. And they got them early. Louie says that could be one
reason for the low seasonal flu rates.