Flu season, only halfway through, claims six lives in Spokane County

This flu season has claimed six people in Spokane County, including Chad Rattray, who was 37, vaccinated against the flu and generally in good health.

While tragic, that statistic alone doesn’t make this an extraordinary flu season, said Mark Springer, an epidemiologist with the Spokane Regional Health District.

However, the number of hospitalizations related to flu is up this year in the county. The previous three flu seasons had an average of 150 flu-related hospital admissions in total. This season, which began three weeks ago, there have been 215 such hospitalizations.

“We are seeing more people who are having flu symptoms that are bringing them into the emergency room,” he said.

Springer said most of the hospitalizations were of an “older group” of people, age 60 and up.

The flu-related deaths, excluding Rattray, are also among older people. Four men have died, two of them in their 60s and one in his 70s. A woman in her 60s and one in her 90s also have succumbed to the flu. Last year, eight people died from the flu in the county. In the 2013 season, two people died.

Still, Springer said, it was uncommon for the flu to strike a lethal blow to a healthy person in his 30s, such as Rattray.

“It’s rare that you see younger individuals affected by the flu, but it is still something that does occur,” he said. “That’s why it’s a universal recommendation in terms of immunization. Everyone can get the flu.”

Rattray’s brother, Todd Rattray, said initial reports indicated that Rattray had contracted the H3N2 strain.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported last month that about half of the H3N2 viruses collected and analyzed had “drifted” and mutated, possibly making this season’s flu vaccine less effective against H3N2.

Springer encouraged people to get flu shots, even though this year’s batch isn’t as effective as it could be.

“Even with decreased effectiveness, we’re still getting some gains with prevention from that,” he said. “It still provides some level of protection.”

Springer noted the flu season is not even halfway over, and reminded people to wash their hands, practice good “respiratory etiquette” and stay home from work or school when sick.

He said to call your doctor within 48 hours if you’re suffering from high fever, cough, sore throat or body aches.