First flu death reported in Spokane County

A Spokane County woman in her 50s died of the flu this week, the Spokane Regional Health District says.

It was the first reported flu-related death in Eastern Washington this season.

“Sadly, this is an example of how serious flu can be,” said Dr. Joel McCullough, the district’s health officer. “Your best chance at protecting your loved ones, and yourself, from flu is to get a flu shot.”

Four other flu-related deaths have been reported in Western Washington this season, and two Spokane County residents have been hospitalized with flu.

Flu season in Spokane County does not typically peak until February.

According to the Washington State Department of Health, so far this year, the dominant flu virus has been H3N2.

Last flu season, 407 people were hospitalized due to flu in Spokane County and, 17 residents’ deaths were attributed to flu-related illness.