The True Story: San Diego's Worst Year for Child Flu Deaths

XEWT reported on 18 September 2025 that San Diego County, California, recorded 220 flu deaths in the 2024-25 season, including 7 children, with about 40,000 cases.

Dr Seema Shah and Dr Sayone Thihalolipavan of the county health agency voiced concern about the new season and urged people, including children, to get vaccinated.

The Key Lesson: Healthy Children Can Get Seriously Ill Too

Youth sports clubs in Thailand, such as football, swimming and basketball academies, have children sharing changing rooms, water bottles and team vans.

• Never share water bottles or towels as a basic rule
• Children with fever skip training, even before a match
• Damp changing rooms need cleaning after every session
• Team vans to away games are closed rooms for hours
• Coaches should know danger signs such as breathing difficulty and drowsiness

How Flu Spreads

According to the World Health Organization, seasonal influenza spreads easily where people gather, such as schools and nursing homes. It spreads through droplets when people cough or sneeze, and through hands that touch contaminated surfaces and then the eyes, nose or mouth. Most people recover within a week, but young children, older adults, pregnant women and people with chronic illness are at risk of severe disease. Influenza is an enveloped virus, which suitable disinfectants can inactivate.

Risk Register for Youth Sports Clubs

1. Sick children training and spreading flu: likelihood high / impact high / level critical. Mitigation: Pre-training screening; feverish children rest. Owner: Head coach
2. Shared bottles and towels: likelihood high / impact medium / level high. Mitigation: Named personal bottles for everyone. Owner: Assistant coach
3. Contaminated changing rooms: likelihood high / impact medium / level high. Mitigation: Wipe after each session and fog weekly. Owner: Facilities
4. Long team van trips: likelihood medium / impact medium / level medium. Mitigation: Ozone-treat vans after trips and ventilate. Owner: Team manager
5. Shared training equipment: likelihood medium / impact low / level low. Mitigation: Wipe balls, mats and gear after use. Owner: Kit manager

7 Steps to Prevent Flu in Youth Sports Clubs

1. Screen children before training for fever, cough and sore throat
2. Use named personal bottles and no shared cups
3. Set up handwashing and gel stations by the pitch
4. Wipe changing rooms after every session: benches, lockers and handles
5. Fog changing rooms and the clubhouse weekly in flu season
6. Ozone-treat team vans after away trips
7. Tell parents about vaccination and danger signs

How ULV Disinfection Fogging Helps

The World Health Disinfection disinfection service uses ULV fogging machines that turn the disinfectant into a fine mist. It settles across the whole area, including corners, curtains, upholstery and surfaces that hand wiping cannot reach.

• Whole-area coverage without relying on wiping spot by spot
• Quick return to use, typically about 30 minutes after fogging
• Uses Chemgene HLD4H, which meets EN 14476 for virucidal activity according to the product page
• The team wears full protective equipment, so owners and staff do not take the risk themselves
• Report and photos after the job for customers, management or authorities
• Tax invoice with 3% withholding tax for companies and agencies

Ozone Treatment for Closed Rooms and Stuffy Spaces

The World Health Disinfection ozone treatment service uses machines that generate ozone gas from oxygen in the air. It suits closed rooms such as meeting rooms, bedrooms, classrooms, sick bays and vans, helping reduce germs in the air and on surfaces and removing stale odours. Ozone breaks back down into oxygen after treatment, leaving no residue.

• Works alongside disinfection fogging: spray or wipe surfaces first, then use ozone for the air and corners of closed rooms
• No people or pets in the room during treatment: the team seals the room and runs a timer
• Ventilate after treatment before normal use resumes
• Machines tested by Intertek, according to WHD's service page
• Ideal after someone has been ill, such as recovered patients' rooms, shared bedrooms and shuttle vans

Before and After

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: When should a sports club be fogged? A: Weekly in flu season, or at once when several children are ill.

Q: How long does a team van ozone treatment take? A: It depends on the vehicle; the team will advise, and the van must be ventilated afterwards.

Q: Does the fogging disinfectant work on flu? A: The team uses Chemgene HLD4H, which meets EN 14476 for virucidal activity according to the product page, and influenza is an enveloped virus that suitable disinfectants can inactivate. Fogging does not replace vaccination or handwashing.

Q: Can I enter the room right after ozone treatment? A: No one should be in the room during treatment. Ventilate afterwards before normal use; the team will advise the right time for the room size.

Q: Can a sports club get a tax invoice? A: Yes. Tax invoices are issued and 3% withholding tax is supported. Call 065-556-6294 or LINE @whd268.

Related Links and Sources

• World Health Disinfection disinfection service
• World Health Disinfection ozone treatment service
• Chemgene HLD4H disinfectant and price
• Influenza information from Thailand's Department of Disease Control, hotline 1422
• WHO seasonal influenza fact sheet

Prevent Flu with Disinfection Fogging and Ozone Treatment

San Diego's data warns that flu can kill children, so sports clubs need clear measures. Reduce the risk with the World Health Disinfection disinfection service for changing rooms, clubhouses and stands, and the ozone treatment service for team vans and player rest rooms. To book, call 065-556-6294 or LINE @whd268.

Call 065-556-6294 | LINE: @whd268