Riverside County health officials confirmed Tuesday that a man over 65 who lived in western Riverside County has died from flu-related illness, marking the region's first influenza death of the 2026–27 season. Officials did not release his identity. The news comes as flu activity across the county has already climbed to “very high” levels, well ahead of the usual winter holiday surge.
County officials pointed to several measures of flu activity moving upward at once: emergency room visits, hospitalizations, laboratory testing and wastewater monitoring. Patch and KESQ reported that county indicators had reached the “very high” level earlier than the typical rise closer to Thanksgiving and the winter holidays.
Riverside County Health Officer Dr. Jennifer Chevinsky called the death “a sad reminder of the dangers that influenza can pose,” particularly for older adults and people with underlying conditions. In a statement to the Riverside County government, she described vaccination as “the single best prevention strategy” against severe flu disease.
Flu Activity Surging Statewide
California has recorded 87 influenza deaths so far this season, including two infants, according to the Patch report. State guidance recommends an annual flu shot for everyone 6 months and older, a measure county officials are promoting as local cases rise.
Riverside County’s Flu Vaccination Coverage
A December 2024 brief from Riverside University Health System–Public Health said flu vaccination coverage had stayed around 25% of eligible county residents in recent years, roughly 5% below statewide coverage since 2019–20. Among Riverside County residents 65 and older, coverage approached 50% in the most recent season discussed in the brief. The brief did not give a corresponding California estimate for that age group.
Those at greater risk of serious flu complications include adults over 65, children under 5, pregnant women, people with weakened immune systems, and people with asthma, diabetes, heart disease or certain other underlying conditions. Symptoms can include cough, fever, sore throat, a stuffy nose, muscle aches and fatigue. When illness spreads widely, families can also face missed school and work and medical expenses.
A Neighboring County's Own Early Warning
San Bernardino County has also reported an early severe case: the region’s first pediatric influenza-related death of the 2026–27 season. CBS Los Angeles reported that the child, who had underlying medical conditions, was too young to receive a flu vaccine and died in October. Officials there said flu and flu-like illnesses were rising earlier than usual. The station also reported that a local physician had identified H1N1 in most of the flu cases he had seen this season. The first pediatric flu death in that county during 2025–26 was reported in February.
What Officials Are Urging Residents To Do
Chevinsky urged residents to get vaccinated while flu activity is increasing. Vaccines are available through healthcare providers and many pharmacies; the county also lists its public health vaccination clinics in a clinic locator. Officials say treatment options are available after exposure or diagnosis.
Officials also recommend frequent handwashing, covering coughs and sneezes, and cleaning commonly used surfaces to help limit respiratory illnesses. Residents may consider wearing a mask in crowded indoor settings and improving ventilation by opening windows or gathering outdoors when possible. People who are sick should stay home from work or school; those at higher risk who have been exposed or feel ill should get tested and ask a healthcare provider about treatment.
Flu season typically runs from October through April, meaning the current surge could continue for months. Vaccination, officials said, reduces the risk of severe complications and the kind of life disruptions — missed work, missed school, unexpected medical bills — that come with a bad flu season.
