Kids particularly at risk as flu strikes Whatcom ‘unusually early.’ Here’s what to do
The flu is hitting Whatcom County and the rest of Washington state early.
Flu activity is already high in Washington, 10 other states and Puerto Rico, according to a weekly flu report put out by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
And that means Whatcom County residents already are feeling the brunt of an early flu season. Most of the illnesses here and elsewhere are being caused by the B strain.
“We typically see the highest incidence of flu in early January and February, but we’ve seen a dramatic climb since about Dec. 12, based on visits to the ED (hospital emergency department) and the labs that report to us,” said Joni Hensley, the communicable disease supervisor for the Whatcom County Health Department.
In Whatcom County, a total of 77 tests came back positive for the flu during the week ending Dec. 14, the latest data available.
A total of 67 were caused by flu B strain, according to the Whatcom County Health Department flu report that was released on Wednesday, Dec. 18.
Compare that to a total of 29 tests that came back positive for the flu for the week ending, Dec. 7.
There have been no flu-related deaths in Whatcom County so far this season, according to the report.
Still, seven people were hospitalized for flu-like illnesses during the week ending Dec. 14.
Nearly 4.3% of people in St. Joseph hospital’s emergency department had flu-like illnesses during the week, compared to nearly 1.5% for the week ending Dec. 7, according to the county flu report.
The flu B strain is usually detected in late winter, according to Melissa Morin, spokeswoman for the county health department.
The B strain “is particularly dangerous for young children,” King County and Seattle public health officials said in a release on Wednesday that announced the death of an elementary school child in King County who died from complications of the flu on Dec. 15, becoming the first pediatric flu death in that county in a decade.
The child was healthy before contracting the flu during what has been an “unusually early start to the influenza season,” officials said.
Statewide, a total of five adults have died from the flu so far this season, according to the state flu report.
The flu vaccine should cover the strains that are circulating, Whatcom public health officials said, adding that it wasn’t too late for people to get their flu shot.
Officials say the best protection against the flu is the vaccine, which is recommended for those 6 months and older.
If you get the flu, try to keep it to yourself.
“Folks should also stay home if they are sick and wash their hands frequently to help keep the flu from spreading around schools, workplaces or holiday events,” Morin said.
Learn more online at KnockOutFlu.org.
This story was originally published December 19, 2019 at 5:00 AM.
