Snohomish County has recorded its first influenza-related death of the season as flu activity rises earlier than usual, health officials said. The death, on Oct. 3, was that of an Edmonds man in his 70s who had underlying health conditions and tested positive for influenza A, the Snohomish County Health Department said. Flu accounted for 1.7% of emergency department visits in the county, a relatively low share but above the state’s 1.4% threshold for elevated community transmission. Since Aug. 30, 63 people have been hospitalized with influenza in Snohomish County, including 31 in a single week. “We are at levels typically seen in early December, which may be a sign of an earlier-than-normal peak season,” said Hollianne Bruce, the county health department’s lead epidemiologist. County Health Officer Dr. James Lewis urged residents to get vaccinated to reduce the risk of severe illness and death. Health officials advise getting a flu shot one to two weeks before attending social gatherings, allowing time for immunity to build. The timing is earlier than in the past three years, when the county’s first flu-related deaths occurred in November. Snohomish County reported 53 influenza-related deaths and 859 hospitalizations during the 2024-25 season. In 2025-26, the county recorded 24 deaths, including one pediatric death, and 606 hospitalizations.