The Snohomish Health District is reporting three people have tied from flu in Snohomish County. The dead include a Bothell woman in her 40s, an Everett woman in her 80s and an Edmonds woman in her 80s. All three died in late December in Snohomish hospitals and all had underlying medical conditions.

State health officials believe the six influenza deaths reported across the state so far are likely just a fraction of the total, because only laboratory-confirmed flu deaths are reportable. All six reported flu deaths this season are in Western Washington.

Health Department spokesman Donn Moyer says there are likely more deaths where flu played a role but the person was not tested for influenza.