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Western Washington Flu Surge Hits 560 Weekly ER Visits as H3N2 Subclade K Spreads

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ER visits climb sharply, adult deaths rise Emergency departments in King County recorded about 300 flu‑like visits per week in December, jumping to more than 560 by mid‑January, while hospitalizations increased and adult flu deaths rose from ten to thirteen [1].

Vaccination coverage stalls below one‑third Only roughly 31 % of King County residents have received a flu shot this season, a slight decline from the same point last year and part of a longer downward trend, which officials say fuels ongoing transmission [1].

H3N2 subclade K drives the outbreak The dominant virus is influenza A H3N2 subclade K, a highly contagious strain that has drifted modestly from the current vaccine composition; nevertheless, vaccination still cuts severe illness risk by about 40‑50 % for high‑risk groups [1].

Pediatric deaths remain a national concern The CDC reports nine child flu deaths nationwide this season, a stark contrast to last year’s 289 pediatric fatalities, most of which involved unvaccinated children [1].

Health officials stress vaccination and early treatment Authorities urge immediate flu shots, staying home when ill, prompt testing, mask use in crowded indoor settings, and antiviral therapy such as Tamiflu within 48 hours to lessen severity; children may need two doses if they lack prior vaccination history [1].

Sources

Timeline

2024‑2025 flu season – The United States records 289 pediatric flu deaths, the highest since tracking began, and nearly nine‑in‑ten of those children were not fully vaccinated, underscoring the protective effect of flu shots [2].

Early 2025 – Outbreaks of the H3N2 subclade K variant appear in the United Kingdom, Japan and Canada, signaling the start of a global surge that later spreads to the United States [1].

Mid‑2025 – The CDC classifies subclade K as a mutated form of influenza A H3N2, noting that “the mutations aren’t enough to constitute an entirely new kind of flu, but they are different enough to evade some protection from this year’s vaccine” [1].

Dec 20, 2025 – CDC estimates the current flu season has caused roughly 7.5 million illnesses, 81,000 hospitalizations and 3,100 deaths nationwide, including at least eight child deaths [1].

Dec 30, 2025 – Flu cases rise rapidly across the United States, driven by subclade K; health officials advise vaccination for everyone aged six months and older, yet only about 42 % of adults and children have been vaccinated [1].

Jan 2026 – Emergency departments in King County, Washington, see weekly flu‑like visits jump from ~300 in December to over 560 in January, and the death toll among adults climbs to 13 [2].

Jan 2026 – King County’s flu vaccination rate hovers around 31 %, slightly lower than the same point last year, contributing to sustained transmission and hospitalizations [2].

Jan 2026 – CDC confirms nine pediatric flu deaths have occurred nationwide this season, highlighting the continued risk to children despite lower numbers than the previous year [2].

Jan 2026 – Public‑health officials stress that “the shot remains one of the most effective tools for preventing severe illness, reducing hospitalization risk by about 40 to 50 % for those at higher risk,” and they urge immediate vaccination, early antiviral treatment, and mask use in crowded indoor settings [2].

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