The flu season has been the deadliest for Washington in the last 5 years and incidents are still on the rise.
The Washington State Department of Health suggests that seasonal flu has already taken a toll on 120 people since the start of the flu season in September 2014. The health department suggests that the number of flu-related deaths may have been even more.
Donn Moyer, a representative of the state's health department, suggests that they are aware that the number of flu and flu-related cases are more as sufficient testing for the flu virus may have not been performed on many people.
The 2013-2014 flu season resulted in the death of 70 people, while the season before accounted for only 54 deaths.
Doctors and healthcare professionals suggest that flu vaccine is the best way to prevent infection. However, the vaccine is just 33 percent effective in treating flu virus, which is going around this season. The flu vaccine for next year is expected to be more effective, which will include the mutated strain, which is not present in existing flu vaccines.
Doctors also suggest that the flu season has peaked during the end of January and beginning of February this year but they warn it may not be the end as flu cases continue to rise.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) had predicted in early December that the 2014-2015 flu season will be severe in comparison to previous seasons.
"It's too early to say for sure that this will be a severe flu season, but Americans should be prepared. We can save lives with a three-pronged effort to fight the flu: vaccination, prompt treatment for people at high risk of complications, and preventive health measures, such as staying home when you're sick, to reduce flu spread," says Tom Frieden, director of CDC.
As the flu season is still not over, the virus can pose a risk to children under 5 years (especially those under 2 years), elderly people over 65 years, pregnant women and people suffering with certain health condition such as kidney, heart or lung diseases, and those who have diabetes or asthma.
The CDC also recommends that people in the high risk category should consult their healthcare professionals or doctors to get prompt attention for flu symptoms.
