A(H1N1) death toll surpasses 100 in California

California has been among the States in the U.S. with the most deaths and confirmed cases of the new flu virus since the outbreak of the pandemic. The death toll in California reached 104, with 1,057 people hospitalised. The State is hoping to have the A (H1N1) vaccine available by the end of October.

The death toll from the A(H1N1) flu has reached 104 in California, with 1,057 people hospitalised, according to the latest statistics released by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) late Wednesday.

The department said 24 more deaths from the virus had been confirmed in the past two weeks in the most populous state in the United States, a formidable rise from two weeks earlier when the figure stood at 80. Meanwhile, 358 more patients have been admitted to hospitals in the state, a 51 per cent increase from the previous record of 699.

While the virus has been spreading at a slower speed in most states in the past month, the pandemic appears to have gained speed in California. Since the outbreak of the pandemic, California has been among the states with most deaths and confirmed cases of the new flu virus reported. The state is hoping to have the A(H1N1) vaccine available by the end of October. Even so, experts say it will be a tough year with the outbreaks of both A/H1N1 flu and seasonal flu.