Flu Surges in Tri-Cities: New Records Set Amid Rising Cases

Rising Flu Cases in the Tri-Cities

The flu season has arrived in the Tri-Cities, with cases now surpassing the peak of last year’s season, as measured by the percentage of emergency room visits for influenza. The Washington state Department of Health recently rated the current level of flu as “high” for the first time this season in its weekly flu report released Monday. This indicates a significant increase in flu activity across the region.

The highest level of flu was observed in central Washington, including Benton and Franklin counties. According to Dr. Steven Krager, health officer for Benton and Franklin counties, statewide about 3.5% of emergency department patients have influenza. However, in Benton and Franklin counties, the rate is about 8%, which is higher than last year’s peak for the Tri-Cities area, which was 7.5%.

Cases have been surging in the Tri-Cities area, but predicting when case numbers will peak and how long until they start to fall remains challenging, Krager said. It is not unusual for flu cases to increase after the holidays, when people are traveling and spreading the influenza virus from other areas to the Tri-Cities.

Low Vaccination Rates

The influenza vaccination rate is low this year, Krager noted. In the Tri-Cities, only 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 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.”

Flu is likely to continue being 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 still lessen the likelihood of getting the flu or being sick enough to require emergency department treatment or hospitalization, Krager said.

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

Vaccine Effectiveness and New Strains

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 (CDC) 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.

Increased Deaths and Regional Trends

In Washington, there have been 22 flu-related deaths confirmed through laboratory reports. 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. The Benton Franklin Health District’s tracking of infections includes respiratory infections such as COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), both of which are currently low in Benton and Franklin counties. In these 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.

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Krisna Dwi Wardhana

Lahir di Padang pada tahun 1991, saya telah tinggal di berbagai wilayah di Indonesia sejak TK hingga kuliah, termasuk Aceh, Palembang, dan Bogor. Saya meraih gelar Sarjana Sains dari FMIPA Universitas Indonesia. Saat ini, saya bekerja sebagai Pendidik di sebuah sekolah swasta di Bogor, Tutor privat sambil tetap fokus mengembangkan Bisakimia.

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