County reports first flu death of the fall, early start to flu season

Published 1:54 pm Friday, October 9, 2026

EVERETT — The Snohomish County Health Department announced Friday the first local flu death of the fall and an early start to this year’s flu season.

An Edmonds man in his 70s who tested positive for Influenza A died on Oct. 3, according to a health department press release. He had underlying health conditions. Influenza A is the most common and severe type of flu.

Since Aug. 30, the county has seen 63 hospitalizations of people with the flu, consistent with levels typically seen in early December, said Hollianne Bruce, the health department’s lead epidemiologist, in the release. Thirty-one of those hospitalizations occurred last week.

For the past three years, the earliest flu-related death was in November. Flu season typically runs from October through April, peaking in the winter, but influenza viruses can circulate year-round, the release said.

“Flu season has arrived early this year in Snohomish County and the Seattle area,” said Dr. James Lewis, health officer for the Snohomish County Health Department, in the release. “We encourage residents to get their flu shots as soon as possible to help protect against serious illness or death.”

The flu vaccine is recommended for everyone ages six months and older and has been shown to reduce the severity of symptoms, sick days and hospitalizations, according to the health department.

Health officials recommend getting vaccinated at least one to two weeks before large gatherings. Vaccines are available at many local pharmacies and clinics. In Washington, children younger than 19 can receive free vaccines. Most insurance plans cover the cost of flu vaccines for adults.

During the 2025-26 flu season, the county recorded 24 flu-related deaths and 606 hospitalizations, according to Friday’s release. These figures are down from the 2024-25 season, when the county recorded 859 hospitalizations and 53 deaths — the highest number of flu-related deaths in the past decade.

Last week, the flu accounted for 1.7% of all emergency department visits in the county, according to health department data. This is considered low, according to the release, but is also considered elevated community transmission per the state health department’s threshold of 1.4%.

Young children, older adults, people with chronic health conditions, pregnant individuals and people residing in long-term care facilities are at higher risk for severe disease from the flu.

Symptoms of the flu include a fever, cough, sore throat, stuffy nose, body aches, headache, fatigue, and occasional vomiting or diarrhea. People are contagious one day before they feel ill and throughout the course of their illness.

For those who have the flu, health officials encourage staying home, wearing a mask in indoor public spaces, covering coughs and sneezes, and handwashing thoroughly with soap and water.

Jenna Peterson: 425-339-3486; jenna.peterson@heraldnet.com; X: @jennarpetersonn.