A San Bernardino County infant has died of the flu, becoming the county's first pediatric influenza-related death of the 2026-27 season. The child had underlying medical conditions and was too young to receive a flu shot, according to county health officials, who did not release the infant's age or city of residence.
The San Bernardino County Public Health Department reported the death Friday afternoon, as reported by sbsun.com. County Health Officer Dr. Sharon Wang said the loss underscores how dangerous respiratory illness can be for the youngest and most vulnerable residents, telling the outlet, “Losing a child to flu is a devastating reminder of how serious respiratory viruses can be.” The announcement did not include further details about the infant's identity, and those specifics remain undisclosed.
KTLA also confirmed the child died of a flu-related illness earlier in October, noting the case marks the county's first influenza-related pediatric death of the season. San Bernardino County's flu season typically runs from November 1 through April 30, with emergency room visits usually peaking between December and February — meaning this death arrived before the season has even officially begun on the calendar.
Flu Activity Climbing Ahead of Schedule
County health officials said flu and flu-like illnesses are rising earlier in the season than expected, a trend echoed across much of Southern California. Last season, San Bernardino County's first pediatric flu death didn't come until February, making this year's October death notably early. A Riverside University Health System report for the week ending October 24 indicated that neighboring Riverside County had not yet recorded any flu deaths this season.
San Diego County has also seen an early and aggressive start to flu season. The county's weekly Respiratory Virus Surveillance Report showed a sharp increase in positive influenza tests, particularly among children ages 5 to 17, according to countynewscenter.com. San Diego has reported two pediatric flu-related deaths this season — a previously healthy 11-year-old and a 6-month-old with complex medical conditions — among 11 total flu-related deaths and 516 hospitalizations countywide. At the same point last year, the county had recorded only two deaths and 86 hospitalizations.
Los Angeles County Sees Early Deaths Too
Los Angeles County has likewise confirmed its first two flu-related deaths of the season, both involving older adults with pre-existing medical conditions, per abc7.com. One of the patients had not received a flu shot, while the other was vaccinated just a week before symptoms began. During the week ending October 10, 7.9% of flu specimens tested at Los Angeles County laboratories came back positive, and flu-related hospital admissions rose from 115 to 144 in a single week, with emergency-department visits for flu-like illness reaching 4.2%.
Officials Urge Vaccination Before Holiday Gatherings
San Bernardino County Public Health recommends annual flu shots for everyone aged 6 months and older, noting that vaccination protects patients and makes them less likely to spread the virus to others. The department says flu and other respiratory viral infections pose especially high risk to infants, pregnant people, older adults, and people with chronic medical issues, who face a greater chance of hospitalization.
The California Department of Public Health recommends vaccination against flu, respiratory syncytial virus, and COVID-19, and county officials say all three vaccines are safe, effective, formulated for the current season, and continue to be covered by insurance. The county is also urging residents to review their vaccination history and get caught up on shots for measles, chickenpox, tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis before the holiday season, when gatherings tend to accelerate the spread of illness.
