First Washington state death of 2016-2017 flu season reported

A Washington resident has died from the flu, which is the first death of the 2016-17 flu season.
 
Washington State Department of Health officials told KIRO 7 News that a person in Spokane County died at the end of August. WSDOH could not release other details about the individual.  
 
The WSDOH communications director wrote in a news release on Monday that the death is a reminder that flu seasons are unpredictable and serious.
 
Health officials urge residents to get flu vaccines, claiming that it is the best protection against the illness.

"People of all ages should get vaccinated before flu season is in full swing," said Dr. Scott Lindquist, state communicable disease epidemiologist for the Washington State Department of Health. "Though flu season often peaks in winter, it's unpredictable, and we urge people to get protected now."

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that everyone over 6 months old receive an influenza vaccination as soon as possible because it takes about two weeks after receiving the shot for a person’s body to build immunity.

Sixty-eight people died Washington state during last year’s flu season, but that’s fewer than the 2012-2013 season where 157 people died.

Here's what to know about this year's flu season, a few things are new this season:

• Only injectable flu shots are recommended for use this season.
• Flu vaccines have been updated to better match circulating viruses.
• There will be some new vaccines on the market this season.
• The recommendations for vaccination of people with egg allergies have changed.

Cox Media Group