RALEIGH, NC — Today, The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services confirmed that one person has died from complication with the flu.
Officials say the death occurred last week in the eastern part of North Carolina. That makes it the first flu related death in the state for the 2016-2017 flu season. Information on the victim is not being released to protect the family’s privacy.
The CDC recommends that anyone 6 months and older should get yearly vaccinations to protect themselves from the flu. The CDC has cited several studies that list the following benefits related to flu vaccinations:
- Protecting people who are at greater risk of getting seriously ill from flu, like older adults, pregnant women, people with chronic health conditions (including obesity) and young children;
- Making illness milder if you do get sick and reducing the risk of more serious outcomes, like hospitalizations and death; and
- Protecting women during pregnancy and protecting their babies until they are old enough to get vaccinated themselves.
Other precautions you can take to protect against the spread of flu and other viruses include:
- Staying home when you are sick until you have been fever free for at least 24 hours;
- Washing your hands frequently, preferably with soap and water; and
- Covering your coughs and sneezes with a tissue and then discarding the tissue promptly
You can get more information on the flu and find flu vaccination sites in your community by going to www.flu.nc.gov.
