Thurston County reports two influenza deaths during 2023- 2024 season

The Thurston County Public Health and Social Services
(PHSS) reported this week that two county residents have died
of influenza in the 2023-24 season. As of Wednesday, 31 people, including one child, have died of flu this season in Washington, and Influenza-like illness activity remains high.
Individuals who become sick should remain home and avoid contact with others, except to get medical treatment. Medical treat- ment is not necessary in most instances, but it may be required for people in higher risk categories.
According to the PHSS, higher-risk groups include young children, people 65 and older, pregnant people and people with certain medical conditions. For more information on influenza trends in Thurston County, go to thurstoncountywa.gov/respiratory-illnesses. Formore information on how to protect yourself, go to cdc.gov/flu/prevent/prevention.htm or doh.
wa.gov/you-and-your-family/illness-and-disease-z/flu.
In addition to the flu vaccine, the PHSS recommends people do the following to reduce the risk of spread:

• Washing your hands often, for at least 20 seconds, with sudsy soap in warm water, or apply hand sanitizer
• Avoid touching your eyes, mouth and nose, which is where germs like to enter
• Stay home when sick and isolate ill 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