Flu death reported in Santa Barbara County

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, Calif. - The first flu death of the season has been reported in Santa Barbara County.

According to the Santa Barbara County Public Health Department's flu report released last week, there has been one known flu-related death in the county this flu season. The person who died was over 65 years old. The health department did not say where the person was from.

Health experts say 133 people who visited hospitals in the past month were diagnosed with influenza-like illness. The health department says that's slightly less than what was seen in the same time period last year.

To read the health department's most recent flu report, click here.

The CDC says flu activity is increasing across the country, but California still has minimal flu activity.

Flu season typically peaks between December and February, but this year the CDC says parts of the country are seeing early increases.