Children 5 and younger are among those most at risk for flu complications.
Symptoms can include fever, cough, sore throat, muscle or body aches and fatigue, though doctors warn not everyone who has the flu will have a fever.
County officials also said the percentage of people with influenza- like illnesses at local emergency departments almost doubled this week, and urged residents to take preventative measures in an active flu season.
That child's death is the fourth King County flu-related death this year.
In a press release, the agency remind residents that the flu can be serious, and that flu activity is on the rise statewide. The predominant strain now circulating is an influenza B virus, which is particularly risky for young children.
The flu season got off to an early start in the Deep South.
"This is the second pediatric influenza death, and we are seeing a lot of influenza in children, which is unusual this time of year and reflects the strain of influenza that we're seeing in the community this season", said Turner. In all, 5.5 percent of all deaths across the USA during that week were caused by flu or pneumonia, up from 5 percent the prior week.
Denver Health has dealt with 197 of the reported cases in Colorado.
Young said flu cases often increase after the Christmas holidays because it spreads through people traveling.
However during this winter the CDC has said that there is a chance of 40% that the flu is going to reach its peak in the month of December on the basis of the activity thus far. Doctors says the flu season has hit early with triple the hospitalizations over the same time period as a year ago.
HUHS employed several strategies to boost vaccination rates this year with the help of undergraduate HealthPALs and communicated with administrative offices to promote the clinics over email and social media.
