Flu spikes in North Idaho

Flu cases are rising in North Idaho.

"We have seen a recent spike in flu activity for our area based on the data we receive from local hospitals," wrote Katherine Hoyer, Panhandle Health District's spokeswoman. 

She said PHD has exceeded the 2.1% region 10 baseline for flu activity, "so we are officially in flu season."

PHD lists flu level activity in the "advisory" stage.

Andrea Nagel, Kootenai Health spokeswoman, said the hospital has seen a handful of cases over the last week.

Cases of the flu are also surging in the Boise area and across southern Idaho, according to the state Department of Health and Welfare’s weekly flu tracker. The most recent state data, for the week ending Dec. 20, shows a map categorizing a broad swath of the southern part of the state, spanning the Treasure Valley to the Tetons, as having “very high” levels of flu activity, marked in dark red. Central Idaho has “high” levels shown in crimson and North Idaho has “minimal” levels in green.

Idaho stands out in dark red among its neighboring states on the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s weekly flu map, which shows the worst of flu season impacting the East Coast and some southern states, and of course Idaho.

According to PHD's website, it has recorded 2,067 influenza cases so far this year, up from 1,687 in 2024, but Hoyer said those numbers include some from the previous years, as well, since flu seasons typically last from October to March.

"As we only receive information from five hospitals in our region and flu is not a required reportable disease, the numbers are not definitive but give us an idea of flu activity in our area," Hoyer wrote.

Flu symptoms include cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, headaches, muscle or body aches, fatigue, and fever or chills. While many people recover within a few days, the flu can lead to serious complications and even death. Central District Health, which covers Ada County, reported last week the third flu-related death in Idaho this season. The woman who died was in her 90s and lived in the Boise area, according to a news release.

Dr. Christine Hahn, medical director at the Idaho Division of Public Health, said it’s not too late to get the flu vaccine, which is available at pharmacies, doctors’ offices and local public health districts. Most insurance providers will cover it, she said.

The flu vaccine is available to Idaho children under the age of 19 at no cost or a significantly reduced cost. 

“It keeps people from getting really sick with the flu in many cases, and that’s really what we want that flu vaccine to do, is keep people out of the hospital, keep people out of the emergency department, keep people from feeling so sick that they’re going to miss a week or more of work or school,” Hahn said Tuesday by phone.

Hahn said she worries the area will see another surge among kids after they head back to school following the winter break.

“Don’t feel like the flu season is over,” Hahn said. “It’s not behind us. It’s definitely peaking right now, and it’s still worth getting the vaccine. And of course, just staying healthy in all the other ways that you can to protect yourself, like getting enough rest, eating healthy, washing your hands, staying away from other people who are sick, that kind of stuff.”