Washington Flu Season 2025-26

[Commonground]

Spokane County Reports First Flu-Related Death of the Season

​Oct 29, 2025

SPOKANE, Wash. – Spokane Regional Health District (SRHD) has confirmed the first influenza-related death in Spokane County for the current flu season. The individual, a county resident in their 70s with underlying medical conditions, passed away this week. They were one of seven residents hospitalized for flu complications so far this season.

“This heartbreaking loss reminds us how dangerous influenza can be,” said Dr. Francisco Velázquez, Spokane County Health Officer. “Our deepest condolences go out to the loved ones of the individual who passed.”

Influenza (flu) is a contagious respiratory infection that affects the nose, throat, and lungs. While anyone can get the flu, certain groups—including adults 65 and older, young children, pregnant individuals, American Indian and Alaska Native populations, and people with chronic health conditions—are at greater risk for severe illness or complications.

During the 2024–2025 flu season (October 1–September 30), the Washington State Department of Health reported a total of 504 flu-related deaths statewide. Spokane County saw 53 deaths and 888 hospitalizations last season.

Common flu symptoms include:
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Continued: https://srhd.org/news/spokane-county-reports-first-flu-related-death-of-the-season

 

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Respiratory Illness Data Dashboard

​Website Last Updated 1:40 p.m. 11/05/2025
Data shown as of previous day at 11:59 pm PT.

These dashboards show trends in Washington state for COVID-19, influenza (flu), and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). The data on these dashboards help us monitor early signs of disease spread, severity of illness, virus variants or subtypes occurring in Washington, and hospital bed use due to COVID-19, flu, and RSV.

Instead of showing data by individual counties, these dashboards use larger regional areas called Accountable Communities of Health (ACH). This change was made because sometimes there is not enough data reported from the county level to display publicly while maintaining an individual’s privacy.

For information on COVID-19 variants national estimates and Region 10 (Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington), please visit the CDC's COVID Data Tracker.

Learn how to stop the spread of these illnesses by visiting our COVID-19, flu, and RSV pages.

The immunization dashboard has moved to the new Respiratory Immunization Data page. You can also access the new page by clicking the "Immunization" button at the top of this page.​

Dashboard Data Notes

Wednesday, November 5, 2025: Death data for COVID-19, RSV, and influenza are current through October 25, 2025. All other data on this dashboard are current through November 1, 2025.

Continued: https://doh.wa.gov/data-and-statist.../respiratory-illness-data-dashboard#downloads


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Respiratory Disease Activity Levels In Emergency Department Visits​

This report shows thresholds of disease activity levels for COVID-19, Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), and influenza (flu) in Washington State calculated using emergency department (ED) visits from October 04, 2025 through November 01, 2025. This report is updated weekly.
When the percent of ED visits for a virus is above its activity level threshold, it is a sign that there is increased spread of that virus






https://doh.wa.gov/sites/default/files/2024-01/340431-RespiratoryEDThresholdStatewideReport.pdf
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[Commonground]

Snohomish County Health Department

For immediate release
Nov. 12, 2025
​SNOHOMISH COUNTY REPORTS FIRST FLU DEATH OF 2025-2026 SEASON

RESIDENTS ARE ADVISED TO STAY UP TO DATE ON VACCINATIONS, TAKE PRECAUTIONS


SNOHOMISH COUNTY, Wash. ­– The Snohomish County Health Department has confirmed the first local death from influenza during the 2025-2026 flu season. A Snohomish woman in her 60s with underlying health conditions died Nov. 8. She tested positive for influenza A, the most common and severe type of flu that causes seasonal epidemics.

While flu deaths occur every year, this serves as a stark reminder that respiratory viruses such as flu, COVID-19 and RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) can result in severe illness, especially for young children, older adults, and others at higher risk.

“With the Thanksgiving holiday just around the corner, it’s a perfect time to get your annual flu shot,” said Dr. James Lewis, Health Officer for the Snohomish County Health Department. “It’s a good idea to get vaccinated at least one to two weeks before a family gathering. This gives your body enough time to build up immunity and offer protection.”

During last year’s influenza season, Snohomish County reported 53 reported flu-related deaths, the most in more than a decade, while 859 flu-related hospitalizations were reported. Last season’s first flu death did not occur until early January. Flu activity typically rises in late fall and peaks between December and February.

Nine influenza-related hospitalizations have been reported so far this season. Based on the limited data so far, it’s too early to predict how severe this season will be.

“We are at the very beginning of the flu season, so now is a great time to get your flu shot,” Dr. Lewis said. “It is a bit concerning to have our first death so early in the season. Things will only get worse.”

People who are at higher risk for severe disease from influenza include young children, older adults, people who are immunocompromised or have chronic health conditions, pregnant individuals, and those residing in long-term care facilities or nursing homes. The annual flu vaccine is recommended for everyone ages six months and older.

The vaccine has been shown to reduce the number of sick days taken from work and school, reduce the severity of symptoms, and reduce the number of flu-related hospitalizations in the community.

Snohomish County residents can visit local pharmacies and clinics to get vaccinated. In Washington state, children under age 19 can be vaccinated for free and most insurance plans, including Medicare part B, cover the cost for adults. If a person still needs a COVID-19 vaccine, both vaccines can be given during the same visit.

If you get the flu:

• Stay home if you are ill
• Wear a mask over your nose and mouth in indoor public spaces when flu or other respiratory viruses are circulating at high rates
• Cover coughs and sneezes
• Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water, and use hand sanitizer when soap and water isn't available.

For more information, visit the Health Department’s flu web page.

Contact: Jeff Hodson shd.pio@co.snohomish.wa.us
​https://www.snohd.org/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=889

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Respiratory Illness Data Dashboard

Wednesday, November 12, 2025: Death data for COVID-19 and RSV are current through October 25, 2025. Death data for influenza are current through November 1, 2025. All other data on this dashboard are current through November 8, 2025​



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https://doh.wa.gov/data-and-statist...lance-data/respiratory-illness-data-dashboard

 

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Respiratory Illness Data Dashboard

​Wednesday, November 19, 2025: Death data for COVID-19, RSV, and influenza are current through November 8, 2025. All other data on this dashboard are current through November 15, 2025.​

https://doh.wa.gov/data-and-statist...lance-data/respiratory-illness-data-dashboard

 

[Commonground]

Flu cases rising on Peninsula
COVID-19, RSV low, health official says

• December 2, 2025

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Influenza cases are rising in Clallam and Jefferson counties while COVID-19 and RSV remain low, and health officials confirmed avian flu in a backyard flock in Jefferson County.

“We are seeing a steady uptick in influenza cases,” said Dr. Allison Berry, the public health officer for Clallam and Jefferson counties, in her monthly update to the Board of Jefferson County commissioners on Monday. “We tend to see an earlier rise in cases and more severe outcomes in our region just because so many of our population is over 65.”

Severe cases most often affect the elderly, immunocompromised individuals and children younger than 5, said Berry, who suggested that those who have not received a vaccination do so now. The vaccination is recommended for everyone 6 months and older, she said.

This year is expected to be a more serious flu season than previous seasons because the influenza subtype being detected — H3N2 — tends to pack a bigger punch, Berry said.

In addition to vaccinations, Berry recommended masking indoors.

“A high-quality mask can protect you and your neighbor in the airport and on those airplanes,” she said.

Berry also addressed Avian influenza, noting that a Grays Harbor County resident died of a rare strain in November.

Last week, a Jefferson County backyard flock tested positive for the avian flu, Berry said. The case is not known to be related to the Grays Harbor County case, she added.

“To reduce the risk of contracting the avian influenza, the most important thing that you can do is to reduce the traffic of wild birds and their interaction with your birds,” Berry said. “Trying to keep your birds separate from migratory geese and migratory waterfowl can make a huge difference in reducing their risk of getting sick.”

If people have sick birds, they should wear gloves, N95 masks and ideally protective glasses while caring for them, Berry said.

For members of the public who don’t have poultry, the risk of contracting avian influenza is very, very low, she added.

“We have not yet seen any human-to-human transmission from avian influenza,” Berry said. “So far, it’s really primarily affecting the birds and then people who come into very close contact with their birds.”

Those who have birds and experience an onset of flu symptoms are more likely to have the standard flu, but they should mention to their doctors that they have birds and if their birds are sick, Berry said.
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continued: https://www.peninsuladailynews.com/news/flu-cases-rising-on-peninsula/

 

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(Clallam & Jefferson are mentioned in previous post (#7), we have H5N1 in wild and domestic flocks in San Juan, wild birds in Lake Tapps, Pierce County. A Health Advisory issued by Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department - Health Advisory: H5N5 Avian Influenza on 11/25)

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Washington State Influenza Update
Week 47: November 16 through November 22, 2025
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Excerpt:
Influenza-like Illness Surveillance by Region

Figure 5 shows the percent of emergency department visits for a chief complaint of ILI or a discharge diagnosis

of influenza for each geographic region in Washington state.

Regions:

West-Northwest: Clallam, Grays Harbor, Jefferson, Kitsap, Lewis, Mason, Pacific, Thurston

Southwest: Clark, Cowlitz, Skamania, Wahkiakum

Puget Sound: King, Pierce

North: Island, San Juan, Skagit, Snohomish, Whatcom

Central: Benton, Chelan, Douglas, Franklin, Grant, Kittitas, Klickitat, Okanogan, Walla Walla, Yakima

East: Adams, Asotin, Columbia, Ferry, Garfield, Lincoln, Pend Oreille, Spokane, Stevens, Whitman

Figure 5: Percent of Emergency Department Visits for ILI by Region, Washington
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continued: https://doh.wa.gov/sites/default/files/2023-05/420-100-FluUpdate.pdf
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Respiratory Disease Activity Levels In Emergency Department Visits

visits from October 04, 2025 through November 29, 2025.





https://doh.wa.gov/sites/default/files/2024-01/340431-RespiratoryEDThresholdStatewideReport.pdf

 

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Respiratory Illness Data Dashboard

Wednesday December 10, 2025: Death data for COVID-19, RSV, and influenza are current through November 29, 2025. All other data on this dashboard are current through December 6, 2025.



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https://doh.wa.gov/data-and-statist...lance-data/respiratory-illness-data-dashboard

 

[Commonground]

Yakima Health District
Media Release
December 16, 2025


Yakima County Reports First Flu Death of Season Locally

Yakima, WA- The Yakima Health District has reported the first flu-related death of the season in

Yakima County. The person was older than 65 years of age and had underlying health conditions.

Flu activity in Washington State is currently classified as “minimal,

” but Yakima County has seen

an increase in flu activity over the last week. Based on the total number of flu tests conducted at

local hospitals during the week of November 30, 2025- December 6, 2025, 8.88% were positive,

which was an increase from 3.98% two weeks earlier (the week of November 16, 2025-November

22, 2025).

Flu Vaccine Recommendations

The flu vaccine is recommended for everyone aged six months and older. Those at higher risk for

severe flu complications include young children, pregnant women, people with underlying health

conditions, and adults aged 65 and older. The flu vaccine helps reduce the risk of serious illness

and can be given at the same time as the COVID-19 vaccine.

Individuals are encouraged to speak to their primary care provider about vaccination for

themselves and their family to make informed decision-making. For those that do not have a

primary care provider, please call 2-1-1.

For information on local clinics and pharmacies offering flu vaccines, visit

www.YakimaVaccines.org.


Public Health Recommendations to Reduce the Spread of Respiratory Illnesses

In addition to getting vaccinated, the Yakima Health District recommends:

• Staying home if sick.

• Covering coughs and sneezes.

• Washing hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
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...https://www.yakimacounty.us/Documen...orts-First-Flu-Death-of-Season-Locally?bidId=
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Washington Respiratory Illness Data Dashboard
Updated December 31, 2025

Data as of 12/29/25


Data as of 12/30/25
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https://doh.wa.gov/data-and-statist...lance-data/respiratory-illness-data-dashboard