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State health official warns of respiratory surge and budget cuts; $181M rural health grant awarded
Summary
Secretary of Health Dennis Worsham briefed the State Board of Health on a severe respiratory illness season (122 lab-confirmed influenza deaths, ~2,100 pertussis cases in 2025), a provisional Hib reporting order through May 1, 2029, a $181 million federal Rural Health Transformation grant for FY2026, and possible Foundational Public Health Services (FPHS) cuts tied to a $2.3 billion state budget shortfall.
Secretary of Health Dennis Worsham told the State Board of Health on Jan. 14 that Washington is in the peak of the respiratory illness season and that the state reported 122 lab-confirmed influenza deaths and roughly 2,100 pertussis cases in 2025. He said the Department of Health has ordered provisional reporting for an unusual cluster of invasive Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), a reporting order that will remain in place through May 1, 2029.
Worsham also summarized federal and interagency changes affecting vaccine policy and said the Department has…
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