The new year has brought a surge of influenza cases across San Diego County late in the traditional season for the virus.

According to the most recent weekly respiratory illness report from the San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency, there is a 31% increase in reported cases.

In the week from Dec. 21 to Dec. 28, cases jumped from 2,420 to 3,567.

At the Saturday Civita Park Farmer’s Market in Mission Valley, families of every kind were looking for bargains and some good food and desserts.

Leilani Robles was selling her homemade cookies at the market. She’s a vendor and mother of two sons who go back to school next Tuesday. 

“It’s gonna be crazy for a little bit [when they go back to school]. They might get colds,” Robles said.

She started her cookie business during the COVID shutdown in 2020. She is a supporter of vaccinations for her family.

We get our flu shot every year. I didn’t start getting my flu shot until I was older … but it really works … and my children haven’t gotten sick,” she said.

The highly contagious respiratory illness affects the nose, throat, and lungs. It can cause symptoms that include fever, cough, chills, sore throat, and a headache.

“At least from the holiday season we’re seeing the rates rise,” said Dr. Jyotu Sandhu, who specializes in family and sports medicine. He strongly recommends a flu shot for protection, especially for the most vulnerable people. Sandhu practices at Sharp Memorial Hospital.

He said, “If the average person gets the flu, they have strong enough lungs to fight off the infection. They have that oxygen reserve. Whereas older people and the younger people don’t.”

Tanya Medrano is an artist selling her cards and ocean designs at the Civita Park farmer’s market every week. She is committed to nature and the healing it can bring. She got the flu already but will not get vaccinated. “I just believe that the body is suppose to fight everything naturally. (Getting the flu was) not fun. But, you know, you just rest, take vitamin C, and just let it run its course,” Medrano said.

The County will release its next respiratory illness report late next week.

Swimming in 57-degree water isn’t everyone’s idea of a great way to celebrate New Year’s Day, but for an intrepid group of ocean-goers in La Jolla, it was just right.

The La Jolla Cove Swim Club welcomed people to dive into the chilly Pacific during the Polar Bear Plunge at La Jolla Shores the morning of Jan. 1.

Participants could take a dip and then warm up with a potluck and coffee. ♦

It’s nearing two years since Grecia Figueroa accused former county supervisor and MTS board chair Nathan Fletcher of sexual assault — now she’s dropping that claim.

Fletcher said their relationship, while a terrible mistake, was consensual. Figueroa is is still suing Fletcher, for sexual harassment, among other things.

Fletcher’s political career ended sometime ago, as well as his time in San Diego. But in 2025 , he’ll be back in the courtroom, as his accuser Figueroa moves forward with her civil lawsuit claims of sexual harassment, emotional distress and job disruption.

The former MTS employee says she was fired from her job to protect his run for higher office.

Figueroa sent the following statement to NBC 7:

“I am focusing on the long-term sexual harassment claims, which still stand, and I am ready for a jury trial.”

Much of the publicly available evidence in this case included flirtacious text and Instagram messages between the two.

In recently filed court paperwork she reiterates how on several occasions, Fletcher requested meetings with her, forcibly kissed her and touched her intimately. At one point, she describes him showing her a firearm strapped to his leg. She goes on to state that because of her job duties and his position of power, she felt she had to give into his advances.

One of Fletcher’s attorneys, Sam Sherman responded to the claims on Friday.

“The reality is the only reason she knew about that gun is because she was rubbing his legs, you know, lower leg where his gun was hiding in his boot,” Sherman said.

Sherman commented about text messages between Figueroa and a friend describing the specific incident.

“And when she texts Ms. Radin about him having that gun, Ms. Radin’s response was, that’s so hot,” said Sherman.

In response to the November-filed declaration by Figueroa, Sherman said that her decision to drop some of her claims including gender violence, battery and discrimination shows that her team was not ready to make a case for them.

He also points to text messages she sent to friends about the encounters proves she consented.

“So this effort that they’re now having to try to twist this into some fearful exchange is completely inconsistent with the clear facts of this case, which is that she was bragging about it. And they were talking about how sexy it was,” said Sherman.

Fletcher’s legal team has filed a motion requesting the civil charges against him be thrown out. A judge is scheduled to weigh that motion at a Jan. 10 hearing.

Figueroa says the text messages to her friends were sarcastic and not serious. Her attorneys can also reintroduce the sexual assault charge in the future.

Meanwhile, Fletcher’s camp has an ongoing defamation lawsuit against Figueroa.