State health officials this week confirmed the first flu-related death of the season. No details about the person’s age or county of residence were released due to privacy laws. Starke County Health Nurse Frank Lynch says now is the time to get your flu shot if you haven’t done so already.
He adds there is nothing in the shot that can give a person the flu. Shots are recommended annually for everyone six months or older. Lynch says the very young, very old and people with compromised immune systems or breathing problems, heart disease and other medical complications are especially susceptible to the flu and other types of viral illnesses.
He says the best way to avoid getting sick is to wash your hands frequently to minimize the spread of germs and other types of bacteria. Lynch also recommends staying home from work or school when you are sick. Flu symptoms include running a fever of 100 degrees Fahrenheit or greater, headache, fatigue, cough, muscle aches and a sore throat. Despite the early flu death, state officials say influenza activity is minimal at both the state and county level at this time.
