The flu has reached the North Olympic Peninsula, and county health departments warn that it is not too late to get flu shots.
With confirmed cases of influenza in Kitsap County, Health Officer Tom Locke said the seasonal virus has reached Jefferson and Clallam counties.
County health departments watch for flu outbreaks by tracking absenteeism from schools and through a network of physicians called sentinels who report suspect cases and test for the virus.
To know when the flu has reached the Northern Olympic Peninsula, Locke said he relies on sentinel physicians in Kitsap County and school absenteeism there.
Some schools in Kitsap County reported up to 30 percent of students have been absent in recent weeks.
“Just in the last day or two we’re getting the evidence to call it,” Locke said.
Locke is the health officer for both Clallam and Jefferson counties.
“We’ve been anticipating this for the last month,” Locke said.
“There was widespread flu on the East Coast after Christmas.”
“It has hit Washington state. We’re seeing a definite upswing in flu cases.”
Doses of the flu vaccine are available in Clallam County through the Department of Health and Human Services, 223 East Fourth Street, Suite 14, Port Angeles.
In Jefferson County, flu shots are available at Jefferson Healthcare hospital, 834 Sheridan Avenue in Port Townsend.
The flu season has been deadly for two children in Western Washington.
Eight-year-old Marija Alumbaugh died in Seattle a week after a 7-year-old girl in Kent.
