EVERETT — Influenza has killed 15 people across Snohomish County during the latest respiratory virus season, the county health department announced on Wednesday, making the 2024-2025 flu season the deadliest in three years.
This year’s flu activity is “concerning,” the Snohomish County Health Department said in a release, especially for older people or those with underlying health conditions. In Janurary, the department announced that the flu had killed two people in the county. The 2023-2024 flu season killed 10 people.
Thirteen of the people killed by the flu this season were over 50 years old, the department said. One was between 35 and 49 and another was between 20 and 34.
About 7% of emergency department visits in the past week were related to flu symptoms, the county said. It’s a decrease from the two weeks prior, where flu-related emergency visits hovered around 8%, but still significantly higher than last year’s numbers. Last year peaked at 4%, the department said.
As of last week, 44 people in the county were hospitalized for flu-related illnesses. Last year’s peak was only 13 people. Between 2022 and 2023, the peak was 24 people.
“After the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, we saw alarmingly high levels of flu activity in 2022-2023. Now, we are witnessing similar, if not greater, levels of viral transmission. This serves as a clear reminder that everyone in our community should take proactive steps to prevent the spread of illness,” said the Health Officer at the Snohomish County Health Department, James Lewis, in a press release. “One of the most effective measures is vaccination.”
Vaccines are recommended for everybody six months and older. Vaccination, which research has proven to be extremely safe, can help prevent severe illness or complications from the flu.
The county health department also recommends masking when sick and staying home if you get the flu. People who get the flu should not return to school or work until it has been more than 24 hours since they had a fever.
To get vaccinated, visit vaccines.gov.
Correction: A previous version of this article incorrectly listed the number of people who were killed by the flu during the 2023-2024 season. Ten people died, not seven. It has also been updated to clarify a season peak of 4% of flu-related emergency room visits in the 2023-2024 season.
Will Geschke: 425-339-3443; william.geschke@heraldnet.com; X: @willgeschke.
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