A Pierce County man in his 40s was the first person to die of flu-related causes in Washington during the 2018-2019 flu season, according to the state health department.
The man died in a Pierce County hospital Monday. He had “chronic health concerns that increased his risk for complications,” the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department said in a statement Tuesday. The department urged people to get the flu shot.
The man’s death comes at the start of flu season, which typically runs from October to April. There was little flu activity in health care facilities across the state during the first half of October, according to a report from the Washington State Department of Health.
“Yes this is early, but you don’t want people to be lulled into a false sense of security by the timing,” said Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department spokesman Steve Metcalf. “We want people to know flu season is something serious.”