Flu hits Tri-Cities area. More cases now than at last season’s peak

The flu season has arrived in the Tri-Cities, with cases now exceeding the peak of last year’s season, as measured by the percentage of emergency room visits for influenza.

The Washington state Department of Health rated the current level of flu as “high” for the first time this season in its weekly flu report released Monday.

The highest level of flu was in central Washington, including Benton and Franklin counties.

Statewide about 3.5% of emergency department patients have influenza, but in Benton and Franklin counties the rate is about 8%, said Dr. Steven Krager, health officer for Benton and Franklin counties.

Last year’s peak for the Tri-Cities area was 7.5%, he said.

Cases have been surging in the Tri-Cities area, but when case numbers will peak and how long until they start to fall is difficult to predict, Krager said.

It is not unusual for flu cases to increase after the holidays, when people are travelling and spreading the influenza virus from other areas to the Tri-Cities.

The influenza vaccination rate is low this year, Krager said.

In the Tri-Cities 18.2 percent of Benton County residents eligible for the vaccine and 13.7% of Franklin County residents eligible have been immunized in the current flu season. People 6 months or older are eligible for the vaccine.

Statewide the rate is 24.7%, which also is down 5.2% from last year.

“It’s not too late to get your flu shot,” Krager said. “And it’s a good idea, especially given the amount of transmission that we have locally and across the state.”

It’s likely that flu will continue to be transmitted over the next couple of months, and the vaccine can start offering protection in a week or two, he said.

Although this season’s vaccine is not the best match, it can lessen the likelihood of getting the flu or being sick enough to require emergency department treatment of hospitalization, Krager said.

“There are still a lot of similarities,” Krager said. “Some protection is better than none.”

Before each flu season, vaccines are designed to match the evolving strains of influenza expected in the upcoming season.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said this season’s vaccine may have reduced effectiveness against a new influenza A virus subclade, sometimes called “subclade K.” The subclade may be associated with more hospitalizations and deaths for seniors and young children than for those in other age groups.

22 Washington flu deaths

In addition to getting vaccinated, other precautions can help stop the spread of the flu, says the Washington state Department of Health. Wash your hands often, cover your cough and stay home if you are sick, it says.

Oregon and California also have levels of influenza rated as high, with Idaho rated as “very high.”

The CDC estimates that there have been 120,000 hospitalizations and 5,000 deaths from flu so far this season. In Washington state there have been 22 deaths from influenza confirmed through laboratory reports.

The Benton Franklin Health District’s tracking of infections respiratory infections also includes COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), both of which are low now.

In Benton and Franklin counties less than 0.25% of emergency room patients have COVID-19 and about 0.2% have RSV.

However, RSV is expected to increase, and COVID-19 cases are increasing elsewhere in the country, which could also mean an eventual increase for the Tri-Cities area, Krager said.