Officials Not Ruling Out Late Flu Flare-Up : Public health: The type of virus that is dominant this year reportedly has contributed to the mildness of the influenza season.

Although the influenza outbreak in Ventura County has been mild so far this year, health officials say a late season flare-up could still leave residents coughing and sneezing.

“We’ve had reports that we might see some late activity,” said Robert Murray, an epidemiologist with the state Department of Health Services. “Stay tuned in. The season isn’t over until the last game is through.”

Nevertheless, according to county health officials, 23 influenza-like cases were reported among 111 patients visiting several large clinics in the county in early January. Seventeen cases out of 197 patients were reported in the second week of February.

Normally, the number of flu-like cases reaches 25% of the patients visiting county clinics, said Lawrence E. Dodds, Ventura County Public Health Services medical director. The season is considered over at the end of March.

Los Angeles County is also reporting a light year, said Michael Tormey, an epidemiologist for its acute communicable disease unit.

He said 20 cases were documented at reporting sites in January. During the same time last year, there were 50, Tormey said.

Health officials attribute the flu season’s mildness to the type of influenza virus that is dominant this year.

According to Murray, the B Yamagata virus, which was prevalent about two years ago, makes up about 75% of the cases reported in California since the flu season began in late October. As a result, Murray said, many people who had the virus previously are still immune to it.

Also, the vaccine administered at the start of the season is working well, officials said.

In Ventura County, more people sought flu shots this season than ever before. Health officials said more than 15,000 shots were administered at 18 clinics countywide.

Betsy Olin, a medical assistant at the Community Family Practice & Urgent Care facility in Ventura, said she has noticed a large increase in the number of immunization shots the office has given this season--especially among young people.

“We’ve had a younger crowd coming in,” she said. “They don’t want to be sick . . . . they can’t afford to take the time off.”

Last season, about two people a week came to the urgent care center complaining of the flu. But Olin hasn’t seen any this year.

“I guess the virus just isn’t around town,” she said.

Dr. Richard Puls, a general practitioner in Ventura, said he has also noticed the downturn.

“It has been quite mild,” Puls said. “In fact, I don’t know if we have seen any influenza coming around. There certainly hasn’t been an epidemic of sick people.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta, the number of influenza-caused deaths is at its lowest level since 1984.

Last year, flu deaths reached their highest point in eight years, the disease control center officials reported.