Influenza-related death reported in Thurston County

The 2025-26 flu season struck a somber note this week when the first influenza-related death was recorded for Thurston County.

The Thurston County Public Health and Social Services Department said it was notified about the death of a resident in the region. The department made the announcement on Wednesday, Jan. 21.

The death marked the 39th lab-confirmed influenza death in the state this season, according to the Washington State Department of Health. 

The death prompted the Public Health and Social Services Department to issue words of caution about flu season.

“Individuals who get sick with flu symptoms should stay home and avoid contact with others, except to get medical care,” the department said in a statement on Wednesday.

“While most people with flu have mild illness and do not need medical care or antiviral medications, certain people are at increased risks of serious complications, including young children, people 65 and older, pregnant people, and people with medical conditions.”

The department went on to state that influenza-like illness activity is currently high in Washington, with influenza A being the most common strain circulating.

There are four types of influenza viruses: A, B, C and D.

“Influenza A and B viruses cause seasonal epidemics of disease in people (known as flu season) almost every winter in the United States,” said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on its website.

Influenza C virus infections generally cause mild illness and are not thought to cause human epidemics, the CDC said, while Influenza D viruses primarily affect cattle with spillover to other animals. The D virus is not known to cause illness in people.

To view influenza data from Thurston County and more information about protections measures, click here.