Flu cases in Washington are backing off, but still considered very high, and in Idaho flu cases continued to build in the latest update.
After hitting a peak early this month, the number of confirmed flu cases and emergency room visits for flu-like symptoms in Washington have been declining. But across the border in Idaho, the virus’ spread continues to grow.
Those are two of the takeaways from the latest flu summaries for both states, which cover the week of December 10 to 17.
While Washington’s flu cases have dropped a bit, visits for outpatient and emergency care for flu-like illness are still way above the seasonal baseline. And after falling briefly, emergency room visits in eastern Washington did tick up again. In Idaho, nearly ten percent of outpatient or E.R. trips are for flu symptoms. The baseline is less than two percent.
Washington reported 26 flu deaths the week of December 10 to 17, bringing the season’s total to 66. In Idaho, six more people died, which brings the toll there to 15.
How the Christmas holiday affects flu cases won’t be known until early January.
