Flu claims state’s first death of season in Pierce County

Flu season is here and it’s claimed its first death in Pierce County.

A man in his 40s died Oct. 22 from flu-related complications, Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department officials said Tuesday.

The man’s death marks the first statewide, according to a tweet from the state Department of Health. Flu season typically runs October to April.

The man, who died in a local hospital, had underlying health conditions that increased his risk for complications, county health officials said.

He name was not released.

In the 2017-18 flu season, 296 people died from the flu statewide, 31 of them in Pierce County.

This story was originally published October 23, 2018 at 6:28 PM.