Flu cases spike in northern Utah, epidemiologists urge vaccination

At one point, influenza accounted for about 10% of emergency room visits in the Weber-Morgan Health Department’s area. While epidemiologists believe the state may be past the peak of flu season, they warn that the virus is still circulating and urge residents to get vaccinated.

“With colder weather, we have more people getting together inside rather than outside,” said Amy Carter, communicable disease and epidemiology nursing supervisor for the Weber-Morgan Health Department. “You have smaller, more confined spaces, and when people get sick, it’s a lot easier for that to spread.”

This year, a new substrain of influenza A, known as subclade K, has likely contributed to higher illness rates. The Bear River Health Department also reported elevated flu activity, though hospitalization rates there have recently declined.

“Whenever there is a small shift or mutation like that, a lot of people don’t have immunity to it, so it tends to cause more disease and spread more easily,” said Pamela Gomez, a respiratory disease epidemiologist with the Utah Department of Health and Human Services.

Health officials say vaccination rates have dropped in recent years, partly due to decreased trust in public health since the COVID-19 pandemic. Gomez emphasized that flu vaccines remain safe and effective.

Amy Carter is a Communicable Disease and Epidemiology Nursing supervisor at the Weber-Morgan Health Department. (Mike Anderson, KSL)

“The recommendation ultimately for flu is that everyone six months and older should get a flu shot,” Carter said. “It’s not too late. There’s lots of flu vaccine availability out there.”

State and local health departments also advise practicing good hygiene, including regular handwashing, cleaning surfaces, and staying home when sick.