VANCOUVER, Wash. — Clark County is seeing an increase in influenza cases since December, with 3.2% of emergency room visits and 2.2% of hospitalizations attributed to the flu during Christmas week — a combined increase of nearly 3 percentage points from the previous week. Health officials say Influenza A, specifically a newer variant known as Subclade K, is driving the rise.
“It’s been increasing significantly, not only in Clark County, but elsewhere in the United States as well,” said Dr. Alan Melnick, Clark County’s public health officer.
The local uptick mirrors a national trend. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported flu activity at “high” or “very high” levels in 45 states during Christmas week, up from 30 states the week before…