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With 8 flu deaths, King County sees spike in cases

King County’s public health department is reporting a spike in flue cases in the last two weeks.

Dr Jeffrey Duchin of Public Health for Seattle/King County said on Wednesday the area’s cold, dry weather may be one reason the flu season is peaking earlier than usual.

“We do know that influenza transmits well in the cool, dry months so it’s quite possible that it may be related to levels of illness of transmission in the community” he said.

According to Duchin, when someone coughs or sneezes, those germs remain suspended in the air more effectively when it's cool and dry.

>> Related: 4 die from flu in Snohomish County.

The deaths of 8 people in King County are being blamed on the flu, according to Duchin.  However, he warns against putting too much stock in numbers.

“We think there are between 75 and 300 people who actually die in King County each year from influenza-related complications," he said.

According to Duchin, it's more important to pay attention to what healthcare workers are seeing: an increasing number of sick people at local hospitals, emergency rooms and long-term care facilities.

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