Sharp increases in flu in Eastern, Wash.

DAVENPORT, Wash. – Officials from the Lincoln County Health Department are seeing increases in flu activity, hospitalizations and deaths, prompting a reminder to get vaccinated and, if a person does become ill, to consult with a healthcare provider about diagnosis and possible treatment with antiviral drugs.

This season, 179 individuals have been hospitalized in Spokane County with laboratory-confirmed flu, compared to 57 admissions during the same period last year; seven deaths are now attributed to flu in Spokane County, compared to one death at this time last year. Twenty-one influenza deat...