Idaho health officials report second flu death
Idaho health officials on Tuesday reported the state’s second flu death in the 2026-27 influenza season. The death was of a resident of Elmore County, a rural area outside Boise, who was in their 80s, the regional health agency, Central District Health, announced. The first death, reported last week, was of an Owyhee County man who was older than age 65. The deaths come as public health officials say that influenza is spreading earlier in the year than usual. In recent weeks, emergency department and urgent care visits related to the flu have been higher than they were during the same time last year, state health officials say. Idaho has averaged about 60 reported influenza-related deaths annually for the last five flu seasons, with most reported deaths among people over 50, according to the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare. Officials at Central District Health say vaccination is…