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California's Flu Crisis Getting Worse By The Day

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — The number of flu deaths across California have more than doubled since last week and hospitals are packed with patients.

Charlie Moreno and his 3-year-old son, Quentin, have both averted this season's flu even though neither of them got vaccinated. But the Los Angeles father says he knows that they're not immune to it.

"I'm healthy now. I eat apples and bananas," Quentin Moreno said.

"I'm a big stickler about making sure that myself, my wife, our kids, all my friends, everyone, all the patients I speak to — I want to make sure that everyone gets immunized," said Dr. Joshua Partnow, a board-certified emergency room physician at California Hospital Medical Center.

The latest report shows influenza deaths in California have doubled in the last week from 45 to 95. Officials are investigating an additional 51 cases.

"Just appears to be a very deadly strain," Partnow said.

Walk-in medical centers and emergency rooms have been inundated with patients.

"The volume has just magnified over the past several weeks to month," Partnow said.

"Two of my co-workers got sick and one of them went to the clinic and he said the line was around the corner," Charlie Moreno said.

With months left in this year's flu season, there's no sign of a slow-down.

But there's still time to get a flu shot. Doctors say it takes a couple weeks to take effect so getting immunized now should protect people during the end of flu season. They say fall is the best time to get vaccinated.

Charlie Moreno said, "I'm definitely going to think about it and get him his flu shot, because I don't want him getting sick or anything."

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