2 adults die from flu in Central California

Two men have died of complications from the flu in Central California and sick children are packing area emergency departments.

The Valley Children’s Hospital in Madera County is seeing about 480 patients a day in the emergency department. Roughly 80 percent of them have flu symptoms. Assistant Director Dr. Shehma Khan says those numbers are higher than usual. A specific increase was not given.

Both men who died had chronic medical conditions before contracting the flu. Their names and ages were not released. An additional eight people have been hospitalized with flu.