Thurston County marks its first influenza-related death of the 2025-26 flu season

The first influenza-related death of the 2025-26 flu season in Thurston County was reported on Wednesday. 

The county issued a news release on Jan. 21 stating that Thurston County Public Health and Social Services (PHSS) had been notified of an influenza-related death of a Thurston County resident. 

To date, the Washington State Department of Health has reported 39 lab-confirmed influenza deaths for the 2025-26 season. 

At this time last season, only five lab-confirmed influenza deaths had been reported in Washington state, according to Thurston County. 

Thurston County documented a total of 24 influenza-related deaths in the 2024-25 season, documenting 13 influenza outbreaks that same season. 

The year prior, 2023-24, Thurston County documented just six influenza-related deaths and only one outbreak. 

“Every year, hundreds of thousands of people in the United States are hospitalized from flu-related illnesses,” Thurston County said in a news release. “Influenza-like illness activity in Washington is currently high, with influenza A being the most common strain circulating.” 

While most people with flu have mild illness and do not need medical care or antiviral medications, certain people are at increased risk of serious complications, including young children, people 65 and older, pregnant people, and people with certain medical conditions.

Thurston County PHSS advises individuals who get sick with flu symptoms to stay home and avoid contact with others, except to get medical care. 

Thurston County annually updates an Influenza Dashboard, which details emergency room visits, hospitalizations, outbreaks, and deaths for the influenza respiratory illness season.

The dashboard can be accessed online at https://tinyurl.com/2unwadtb

Thurston County respiratory illness trends can be monitored at  www.thurstoncountywa.gov/respiratory-illnesses

For more information on how to protect yourself from influenza, visit the Washington State Department of Health’s website at https://doh.wa.gov/you-and-your-family/illness-and-disease-z/flu 

For information on where and how to get an updated flu vaccine, visit https://www.vaccines.gov/en/

Other ways to reduce the risk of illness and the spread of all respiratory viruses include:

• Wash your hands often for at least 20 seconds with sudsy soap in warm water, or with hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
• Avoid touching your eyes, mouth, and nose where germs like to enter.
• Stay home when you’re sick (even if it is “just a cold”) and isolate sick household members in separate rooms. 
• Wear a mask in crowded or poorly ventilated settings.
• Limit the number of close contacts for young infants and individuals with certain chronic conditions.
• Clean high-touch surfaces frequently with a cleaner known to kill these common viruses.
• People in higher-risk groups are recommended to contact their health care provider if they develop flu symptoms.