Washington State Reports 400-Plus Weekly Flu ER Visits as Unusually Early Season Hits Children Hard
Updated
Updated · The Seattle Times · Oct 19
Washington State Reports 400-Plus Weekly Flu ER Visits as Unusually Early Season Hits Children Hard
1 articles · Updated · The Seattle Times · Oct 19
Summary
King County hospitals logged more than 400 flu-related emergency visits in the first week of October, versus the usual fewer than 50 for this time of year, marking the region’s earliest major flu surge in records dating to at least 2018.
Seattle-area pediatric hospitals are seeing the sharpest jump: about 6% of Seattle Children’s ER patients had flu in early October, up from 0% a year earlier, while roughly 20% of influenza A tests were positive, up from under 2% in August.
The surge is spreading beyond children. Providence Swedish reported a 330% increase in positive flu tests from a year earlier, with a steeper rise among adults 50 and older, and King County has recorded nine flu deaths since late September.
Doctors say it is too early to know why the season started so soon or whether it will become more severe, but they warn the early wave could lengthen the season and are urging immediate vaccination because shots can take up to two weeks to provide strong protection.
Hospitals are also tracking COVID-19 alongside flu, including 12 active outbreaks in King County long-term care facilities last week, underscoring broader concern about respiratory viruses heading into fall and winter.