Doctors concerned about new strain of flu virus as flu season approaches

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) - Doctors are warning that California could see an early and sharp start to this year's flu season.

Doctors say a combination of low vaccination rates and late mutations to the virus may hit our state especially hard.

There are already warning signs - Riverside County already reported its first flu death of the season, and other counties are reporting record-breaking or powerful, earlier than expected flu seasons.

Typically, the flu picks up right after Christmas and into the new year, but doctors at Desert Regional Medical Center are bracing for an increase in viral activity over the next few weeks.

Desert Regional ER Physician Dr. Brian Anderson says, "There's been a strain that's come out that's not covered by our current vaccine; it kind of is the biggest concern going forward. We haven't seen a lot of flu quite yet, but we're worried that the vaccine that was given is not going to cover the strain if it really starts to grow in our community."

News Channel 3's Peter Daut spoke in-depth with Dr. Anderson about his concerns.

Even if there is a mismatch between the new strain and the current vaccine, doctors say the vaccine still provides some protection against severe illness and are encouraging everyone who has not received the vaccine to get it now, especially before holiday gatherings.