Washington hospitals see rise in flu patients

Flu cases are climbing in Washington state, sending more people to hospital emergency rooms, according to UW Medicine.

Why it matters: An unprecedented rise in flu cases comes as other illnesses — such as the "winter vomiting bug," COVID and whooping cough — are slamming the United States.

Driving the news: Cases of the flu remain elevated coast to coast, according to the CDC.

• New CDC data shows that there's been at least 7.5 million illnesses, 81,000 hospitalizations and 3,100 deaths from the flu so far this season.

By the numbers: Flu activity was rising across Washington in early January, with the virus accounting for 3.6% of all emergency department visits and 2.4% of hospitalizations as of Jan. 3, according to the state Department of Health's respiratory illness dashboard.

What they're saying: This flu season is shaping up to be "at least as bad and maybe worse than last year," said UW Medicine infectious disease expert John Lynch.

• Lynch said it's not too late to get a flu shot, noting that vaccination remains the most effective protection.

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