‘It could be a rough flu season’: Snohomish County reports first flu-related death this season

Snohomish County is reporting its first flu-related death of the season.

An Edmonds man in his 70s died Saturday. He had underlying health conditions and tested positive for influenza A, according to the Snohomish County Health Department. The earliest flu-related deaths in the previous three years occurred in November.

Snohomish County flu activity already at levels typically seen in December

Jeff Hodson with the Snohomish County Health Department told KIRO Newsradio that flu season has arrived early. He noted flu levels are already where they normally are in December.

“Those numbers have started ticking up since the end of August, the beginning of September. So that’s a lot earlier than usual,” Hodson said. “And we’re already seeing levels that are what we would normally see, say, in December.”

There were 31 hospitalizations in Snohomish County last week alone. Meanwhile, 63 people have been hospitalized with influenza since late August.

Overall flu levels remain low, accounting for 1.7% of emergency department visits, according to the department. However, that exceeds the state’s 1.4% threshold for elevated community transmission.

“But the rate we’re going, it looks like it could be a rough flu season,” Hodson said.

Health officials urge flu vaccinations as cases rise early

Hodson said vaccinations and other precautions could help curb the spread.

“Where it will tail off, we don’t know,” he said. “If people go out and get their vaccines, and they stay healthy and stay away from crowded areas or wear masks. Maybe we can head it off.”

Health officials urge residents to get vaccinated as soon as possible, allowing at least one to two weeks before gatherings for the body to build protection. They also recommend staying home when sick, covering coughs and sneezes, washing hands thoroughly, and wearing a mask in indoor public spaces when flu activity is high.

Young children, older adults, and people with underlying health conditions are especially vulnerable to severe illness, according to the department.

Snohomish County recorded 24 flu-related deaths, including one pediatric death, and 606 hospitalizations during the 2025-26 reporting season. The previous season brought 53 deaths — the county’s highest total in a decade — and 859 hospitalizations.

Although health officials describe the man’s death as the first of this early flu season, it is counted in the 2025-26 statistics because he contracted the illness during that reporting period, which ended Oct. 3.

Contributing: Frank Lenzi, KIRO Newsradio; Julia Dallas, MyNorthwest