Public Health – Seattle & King County has learned that two children in King County have died from complications of the flu during the 2024-2025 season.

The first was an elementary-age child who died on Feb. 14, according to a Friday, March 7 Public Health media release. The second was a preschool-age child who died on Feb. 21.

These two unconnected cases are the first two recorded pediatric flu deaths this season in King County, according to Public Health. King County has not had a pediatric flu death since the 2022-2023 flu season.

Since the fall of 2024, we have seen rapidly increasing flu activity locally and at higher rates than most recent flu seasons, according to Public Health. It is likely that high levels of flu activity will continue over the next few weeks. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) classified this flu season as “high severity” for all age groups, a designation it has not made since the 2017-2018 flu season.

Anyone is at risk for flu, but some groups are at greater risk for severe complications. This includes very young children, older adults, people with underlying health conditions, and pregnant people.

“This is a tragic loss, and we send our deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of both children,” said Dr. Eric Chow, chief of Communicable Disease and interim health officer for Public Health – Seattle & King County. “This is a particularly high severity flu season, locally and nationally. If you’re not already vaccinated, it’s not too late to get your flu shot. Immunization provides important protection against severe complications which could mean the difference between being hospitalized or having mild illness at home.”

So far this flu season, 63 flu-related deaths in King County residents have been reported. This is an undercount, as many flu-related deaths, locally and nationally, are not captured by standard reporting, according to Public Health. The CDC’s preliminary estimate is that in this flu season to-date, 21,000 to 100,000 people in the U.S. have died from flu-related illness.

How to help prevent illness

• Get your seasonal flu shot: Getting the flu shot each year is the best way to prevent severe flu illness, according to Public Health. It’s not too late to get your flu shot this season. Everyone ages six months and older should get the updated flu shot each year, even if you’ve had the flu shot in prior flu seasons or an infection during this or prior seasons. The flu shot can help protect you from the other types of flu that circulate in the community. It’s safe to get other respiratory illness vaccines, such as the COVID-19 vaccine, at the same time.

Find information about where to get vaccinated, including for people who are under or uninsured, at kingcounty.gov/findaclinic.

• Wear a high-quality, well-fitting mask when in indoor public spaces.

• Wash hands regularly.

• Stay home and away from others if you’re sick, regardless of whether you’ve tested positive for flu, COVID-19 or any other respiratory viruses. This is particularly important if you’re going to be around young children, older adults, pregnant people, or people who have underlying medical conditions.

• Improve indoor air quality — visit this webpage for guidance on ways to improve indoor air quality to help prevent the spread of respiratory illness.

Recommendations

• Pregnant people should vaccinate: Pregnant people are at high risk for severe illness and complications of pregnancy from both flu and COVID-19. We highly recommend that pregnant people get their flu shot and updated COVID-19 vaccine now, if not already vaccinated. This is important to protect both the pregnant person and the baby because antibodies will transfer from parent to baby.

• Limit contacts with babies and vaccinate family around them: Given the high level of respiratory illnesses circulating, consider limiting the number of people that babies are in contact with, and people who are ill should stay away from newborns and babies. Make sure that everyone in the family who can be vaccinated against flu and COVID-19 are up-to-date on these vaccines. This helps to create protection for babies and others who are not able to be vaccinated.