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More than 200 dead in state's worst flu season this decade

SEATTLE — More than 200 people have died in Washington's worst flu season this decade, but it appears to be subsiding.

that the Department of Health says influenza had killed 207 people in the state as of Feb. 11, making this season the worst in a decade. During the 2014-2015 flu seasons, only 157 people died statewide.

Most of this season's deaths involved older people with underlying conditions like heart disease, respiratory disease and diabetes. King County has seen the 55 flu-related deaths, the most in the state.

Public Health -- Seattle and King County health officer Dr. Jeff Duchin says it looks like the season peaked in late January and has been improving since then.

Durkin spoke to reporters in January, when health leaders saw a spike in cases.

Eight people in King County have died from the flu so far this season. A health officer talking about the spike in cases now. >> kiro.tv/KingCoFlu

Posted by KIRO 7 News on Wednesday, January 4, 2017

Duchin released this FAQ about the flu on the King County health department’s

about who is at risk and how to prevent the flu.

Are there any groups of people who you’re particularly concerned about getting the flu?

Certain people are at higher risk for serious illness, complications and hospitalization from the flu. These include:

  • People with asthma
  • People with diabetes, and those with liver disorders or kidney disorders
  • People with heart disease and those who have had a stroke
  • Adults 65 and older
  • Pregnant women
  • People who have a weakened immune system due to disease or medication (such as people with HIV or AIDS, or those on chronic steroids)
  • People who have cancer
  • People with extreme obesity
  • People with neurodevelopmental/neurocognitive conditions
  • Children younger than 5, but especially children younger than 2 years old
  • Native Americans/Alaskan Natives

Anyone in one of these groups or who has regular contact with members of these groups should get the flu shot, wash hands frequently, and stay away from others if you have flu symptoms.

So it’s not too late to get the flu shot?

If you haven't yet gotten a flu shot, it's definitely not too late – there's a lot more flu still to come and a flu shot provides the best protection against the flu. The peak of flu season could still be weeks away and flu typically continues to circulate through the spring.  A flu vaccine starts to build protection right away, reaching its full protection after two weeks.

How good of match is the flu vaccine this year, so far?

To-date, the main circulating flu virus is influenza A H3N2, the type that is associated with higher levels of hospitalization and deaths.  It's good news that the vaccine is matched very well to circulating flu viruses to-date this season.

Besides getting a flu shot, what else can people do to protect themselves?

Stay away from anyone who is sick, and if you're sick, stay at home to protect others, especially people at higher risk for serious illness. As always, frequent hand washing helps reduce the spread of illness.

Eating nutritious foods, staying active, getting enough sleep and avoiding excessive stress are also good ways to keep your immunity up.

If you do get sick, antiviral medication  can be prescribed to treat influenza. This is especially important for people at high risk for complications and should be started as soon as possible after symptoms develop. People at high risk for influenza should contact a healthcare provider promptly after illness onset to determine if antiviral medication is needed.

There’s also a mumps outbreak in King County, mainly in the Auburn area. How can people tell flu from the mumps?

Mumps and the flu share some symptoms, like fever, headache, muscle aches, and fatigue, but these symptoms are usually worse with the flu. The flu also causes prominent cough and can cause a sore throat.  Mumps causes swelling in the glands around the cheeks or jaw, and this is uncommon with the flu.

Durkin spoke to reporters in January, when health leaders saw a spike in cases.