The more than 500 flu hospitalizations already exceed the number of such visits in any year since before the 2020-21 flu season when cases dramatically lowered amid COVID-19 lockdown efforts. Nationally, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has classified the flu as “high severity” for all age groups, which it has not done since the 2017-18 season.

Spokane flu cases are slightly outpaced by statewide data showing the disease at 4.9% of hospitalizations through Feb. 22 versus 4.8% locally. There have been 177 influenza-related deaths statewide this season.

Spokane Regional Health District health officer Francisco Velazquez said influenza was in “full force” in Spokane.

Spokane County also remains in a whooping cough outbreak, with 101 cases reported so far this year. That’s the most cases of any county, beating out even King County, where only 60 people had fallen ill with the sickness also known as pertussis. Per capita, Spokane also has one of the highest rates of whooping cough cases of any county in Washington at 18.2 cases per 100,000 residents, second only to Adams County at 18.9. It also far outpaces the state average of 5.5 cases per 100,000 residents.

Velazquez said he anticipates whooping cough to continue at that rate for the near future.