Information about seasonal flu infections comes from the Washington State Department of Health. Each week, the DOH puts out a weekly flu update. You can access the weekly update, and seasonal summaries for past years, here.
As of Dec 10, 2020, there has been one confirmed case of the flu in Okanogan County and flu testing is happening frequently. Flu activity in Washington State has been low.
There have been zero confirmed flu deaths so far in the 2020-2021 flu season (the ‘season’ runs roughly October to October, so the 2020-2021 season started on Oct 1, 2020 and will run through Sept 30, 2021). There have been zero influenza-like illness outbreaks in long term care facilities so far in the 2020-2021 season.
During the 2018-2019 flu season (the last complete season where data are available), 245 people died of a lab-confirmed influenza associated death in Washington State. Of those who died, 169 were over the age of 65 years. There were 2 confirmed deaths from flu in Okanogan county. Nationally, the severity of the 2018-2019 season was categorized as ‘moderate’.
Nationally, the 2017-2018 flu season was categorized as a ‘high severity’ season and was one of the worst flu seasons on record. In Washington, 296 people died of a lab-confirmed influenza associated death. Of those, 222 individuals were over the age of 65 years, and the death rate for that age group was 24.3 deaths per 100,000 people. By April 19, 2018, there had been one (1) confirmed death from flu in Okanogan county during the 2017-2018 flu season.
Nationwide, influenza killed about 80,000 people in the 2017-2018 season, according to the CDC. The previous high for a regular flu season, was 56,000 deaths, more than 30 years ago.
Nationally, the 2016-2017 flu season was categorized as moderate severity. In Washington, 276 people died of a lab-confirmed influenza associated death. Of those, 242 individuals were over the age of 65 years, and the death rate for that age group was 25.8 deaths per 100,000 people.
Here is a summary of deaths in WA state from flu in previous seasons. This comes from the Washington State Influenza Summary (2018-2019 season) here.
All of this information is freely available from the WA DOH here.