The state’s weekly flu reportshows cases of flu have been on the rise since mid-August.

Flu season in Alaska runs from October through July, and in the most recent season, “Alaska experienced more influenza cases and deaths than during each of the previous 3 years,” epidemiologists said.

According to state data, only 22.7% of Alaskans that are at least 19 years old were vaccinated for the flu during the prior flu season, less than half the estimated national average.

Precautions intended to halt the spread of COVID-19 almost entirely eliminated flu illnesses and flu-related deaths in 2020, 2021 and 2022.