Local healthcare facilities report being slammed with influenza patients this season, along with people suffering from colds and other respiratory viruses.

“Unfortunately, we are seeing much higher rates of flu this year,” said Tina Sary, a nurse practitioner with Cottage Health’s Virtual Care program.

Cottage Health throughout its system has treated roughly double the number of flu patients compared to last year, Sary told Noozhawk.

The flu season normally starts in October and continues through March, with the peak being from December through February.

The greatest number of cases in Santa Barbara County were recorded in late December and January.

“But we’re well into March, and we’re still seeing pretty high activity,” Sary noted.

Some flu patients are confirmed through laboratory testing, Sary said, while others are assumed to have the disease based on their symptoms and contact with people who have tested positive.

Sansum, Marian Seeing Similar Rise in Cases

Sansum Clinic, part of Sutter Health, has experienced a similar flood of influenza cases, according to Dr. Marjorie Newman, chief medical officer.

“This has been a really difficult flu season, nationally and in Santa Barbara,” Newman said.

Two months ago, Newsman said, about half the patients who were tested turned out positive for the flu. That has dropped to about 25% in recent weeks, and continues to decline.

“It’s the worst season we’ve seen since the (COVID-19) pandemic,” she added.

The very young and the elderly are the populations most at risk for serious illness or death from the flu.

Dr. Terrance McGovern, director of emergency medicine at Marian Regional Medical Center in Santa Maria, said the number of patients testing positive for influenza within his organizations “essentially doubled from 2023-24 to 2024-25.”

Flu patient profiles have been “across the board,” McGovern said. “But we always worry about the very young and the very old, and we worry about patients with co-morbidities.”

What’s Led to the Surge in Flu Cases?

Local health experts say multiple factors likely are responsible for this season’s surge in flu patients.

A key one is that fewer people got vaccinated against the flu ahead of this season, Sary said.

To be most effective, at least 70% of the population needs to be vaccinated before the peak season, she said, “but this year it’s less than 50% across the state.”

Some estimates put the number nationally at 40-45%.

Newman also cited the reduced vaccination rate, and pointed out that influenza cases — and other respiratory illnesses — dropped significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic due to people masking up and social distancing.

One result of that, she said, was that fewer people developed natural immunity by getting sick.

What to Do If You Get the Flu

There are anti-viral drugs such as Tamiflu for people with severe flu symptoms, and for those at higher risk of serious complications.

It’s a 5-day course of pills that can reduce the severity of the flu. But to be most effective, it must be started within 48 hours of symptoms beginning.

“It’s hard to be seen by a doctor that quickly,” Sary said. “That’s where virtual care is really awesome.”

Sary said Cottage already has experienced more than double the anti-viral therapy compared to the previous season.

However, most people need to just let the flu run its course. It’s recommended that they stay home and avoid contact with other people except to get medical care.

Such patients are advised to get plenty of rest, drink lots of fluids, and take over-the-counter medications — fever and pain relievers, cough suppressants and decongestants — to manage symptoms.

People with the flu tend to be most contagious during the first three days after symptoms appear, although some may be contagious for longer periods.

Treatment Options for Flu & Other Ailments

Cottage Health’s Virtual Care program is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Patients can go online, fill out a form detailing their symptoms and health information, and receive a treatment plan within minutes.

Alternatively, they can request a face-to-face video visit with a doctor or nurse practitioner.

Cost for either is $29, and is covered by some health insurance plans, although not Medicare.

Treatment options also are available through Sansum, Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics, the Santa Barbara Public Health Department, local hospitals including Cottage’s three campuses, Marian and the Lompoc Valley Medical Center, and urgent-care centers such as UCLA Health.

How to Avoid Getting the Flu

Dodging the flu generally comes down to vigilance and good hygiene.

Doctors recommend getting the flu vaccine in the fall; it’s widely available through medical offices as well as pharmacies. A more potent version is available for people 65 years of age and older.

Beyond that, masking in crowded indoor locations can help prevent the spread of the flu and other airborne viruses, and frequent hand washing is always a good idea.

And, of course, keeping your distance from people you know are sick with the flu is always a good idea.