Health & Fitness
WA Hospitals Navigate 'Unprecedented' Early Flu Surge
Western Washington is navigating flu-related hospitalizations at higher levels and much earlier in the season than usual.
SEATTLE — High flu activity continues to gain ground in Washington and across the country, amid a "historically severe" start to the season, according to UW Medicine. According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, flu-related hospitalizations are higher for this time of year than every other year since 2011, with the highest rates seen among adults 65 and older and children under 5.
"We're definitely seeing that within UW Medicine hospitals," said Dr. John Lynch, Harborview Medical Center's director of infection prevention and control. "At each of our facilities, we're seeing high numbers of influenza patients with a variety of presentations, from mild to very severe."
As of Thursday, UW Medicine estimated 100 patients were receiving care for flu or COVID-19 complications at its hospitals, which are also contending with RSV and other respiratory illnesses. Typically, flu season doesn't ramp up until after the holidays, but this year hospitals are already dealing with the influx.
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"The flu sort of pandemic as it's arising right now is much earlier than we've typically seen," Lynch said. "In Western Washington, we don't typically see the flu until the end of December, and you have to remember, this started coming right at the end of November. So, right now we're seeing very large numbers, and very early in the season for us."
The state Department of Health shares flu season updates each Friday, and as of last week activity remained in the "very high" bracket, with 13 reported to date.
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Health officials continue to urge more people to seek out a flu shot sooner than later, nothing that there's still time to boost protection before Christmas and New Year celebrations.
"It is definitely not too late to get a shot," Lynch said. "The type of influenza that's circulating appears to have a pretty good match with the vaccine that we're using this year. So again, another sort of check in the plus column to get vaccines as soon as possible if you haven't already done [so]."
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