A flu outbreak is hitting people across the country and right here on the South and Central Coasts.
There has been a significant increase in influenza activity in recent weeks that has caused a surge of illnesses, hospitalizations and even deaths.
Health officials have reported four flu-related deaths in Ventura County and three in Santa Barbara County, and numbers are expected to rise.
Dr. David Fisk with Cottage Health says its hospitals in Santa Barbara, the Goleta Valley and the Santa Ynez Valley are inundated.
Fisk says the emergency rooms are swamped.
He says people should avoid coming to the emergency room unless they’re suffering from serious symptoms or complications.