PORTLAND, Ore. — The Oregon Health Authority released its weekly statistics on the flu season and reports a child died from a flu-like illness in early December.
It's the first death of a child related to the flu in 2019, according to the OHA's weekly reports.
In Oregon, during the same week, 31 people went to the hospital with flu-like symptoms. That's more than triple the number during the same week in 2018.
"Flu season has come earlier this year than other years. We're about 3 to 4 weeks earlier than in general for other seasons," said Dr. Katie Sharff, an infectious disease specialist with Kaiser Permanente.
"This year's very interesting, we're seeing a predominance of influenza B virus, which is a unique strain to see this early in the season," Sharff said.
Flu season varies year to year. Doctors typically classify flu season from October to March, with the peak of activity from December to February.
"Everyone's at risk of the flu, it's not just being high risk and so even if you think you're healthy you should get a flu shot," Sharff said. "In 2017, 2018 they estimated 50,000 to 60,000 deaths from the flu. So it's a real disease and I think we underestimate it."
According to the CDC, symptoms of the flu include fever or feeling feverish/chills, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headaches and fatigue.
Those at risk are children, women who are pregnant, seniors and those that have a medical condition like heart disease, lung disease or diabetes. Sharff says even certain medications you take can put you at risk of the flu.
Sharff says it's never too late to get the flu shot.
"By getting the flu shot, you're not only protecting yourself you're protecting the people you love."