In week ending January 25, local indicators for influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) began increasing again after an initial decline; indicators for influenza and RSV were high, while indicators for COVID-19 remained minimal. Regional laboratory surveillance most frequently detected Influenza A among clinical respiratory specimens. Elevated pertussis activity continues to be reported throughout Washington State, including Kitsap County, with local clusters of cases reported in Kitsap schools and sports teams.
4.2% of emergency department (ED) visits were attributable to influenza, 0.9% of ED visits were attributable to RSV, and fewer than 10 visits were attributable to COVID-19; influenza- and RSV-associated ED visits were especially high among pediatric patients. Kitsap sentinel reporting labs reported 209 positive influenza tests (196 influenza A, 13 influenza B; 30.2% of specimens tested), 15 positive COVID-19 tests (2.6% of specimens tested), and 33 positive RSV tests (13.8% of specimens tested).
On average, fewer than 10 hospital beds at St. Michael Medical Center were in use per day for COVID-19 or influenza patients.
At Kitsap long-term care facilities, there has been one COVID-19 outbreak reported in the past four reporting weeks, and no influenza outbreaks.
