King County influenza update

January 17, 2020.Reading time 4 minutes.

Based on monitoring of influenza-like illness levels at King County emergency departments and results of laboratory tests for flu, it looks like this season’s influenza B outbreak has peaked. Even so, influenza B activity remains elevated at a relatively high level and is likely to continue circulating in our community for many weeks. “It’s good […]

When to seek medical care for flu

January 7, 2020.Reading time 5 minutes.

Most people who get the flu don’t require medical care and will get better by staying home, getting plenty of rest, and drinking lots of fluids. Anyone with the flu should also avoid contact with other people. But some cases of flu need to be treated by a medical provider. When should you seek medical […]

Pediatric flu death reported in King County

December 18, 2019.Reading time 7 minutes.

Update 2/13/20: Another King County child died of influenza B on 1/16/20, bringing to two the number of reported pediatric influenza deaths in King County this flu season. Public Health has learned that an elementary-school-aged child in King County has died from complications of influenza. The child was previously healthy and died on December 15th […]

Get FLU-ent in the facts about flu shots

September 26, 2019.Reading time 9 minutes.

Flu season is nearly here. To help you decide when, where, and how to get vaccinated, we compiled answers to some of the most common questions we see regarding flu vaccinations. Who should get a flu shot? Everyone over 6 months of age should receive a flu vaccine yearly, unless a doctor has advised otherwise. […]

Widespread flu this spring: A double whammy

March 22, 2019.Reading time 7 minutes.

Even though the plum trees are blossoming and the heavy coats are disappearing, flu season is in full swing. And this year, hospitals are reporting a big uptick in the number of flu cases so far in March. We talked with Dr. Jeff Duchin, Health Officer for Public Health – Seattle & King County, to […]

A City Mourns and Moves On: Part 3 of “Pandemic in Seattle”

September 19, 2018.Reading time 1 minute.

What happened when a second wave of severe influenza came through Seattle on the heels of a war victory? We present the third installment of a 4-part comic strip commemorating the centennial of the 1918 influenza pandemic. Stay tuned in to the Public Health Insider to see the final chapter! This comic strip series, illustrated by David […]