Stanislaus County Health Services Agency officials are reporting the first influenza (flu) associated death for the 2016-2017 flu season. The deceased, a 59 year-old man, had multiple underlying medical conditions, and died on Monday, Jan. 9.

“The death of this person grieves us all,” said Public Health Officer, John Walker. “It is important that Stanislaus County residents receive the flu vaccine and take other preventative measures to help prevent further loss of life.”

Flu is a serious illness that can lead to hospitalization or death. Public health officials recommend annual vaccination against the flu for everyone six months and older. In addition to getting vaccinated, Public Health officials recommend other precautions that can protect against the spread of seasonal flu. These include: washing your hands frequently, preferably with soap and water; covering your coughs and sneezes with your sleeve or tissue; and staying home when you are sick.

In addition, persons with chronic medical disorders should also receive the pneumococcal vaccine. This is especially important for people with diabetes, respiratory disorders (like asthma), and heart disease. The pneumococcal vaccine provides protection from the most common cause of pneumonia-related deaths for people 10 or more years of age.

These important recommendations and preventative measures can help protect you, your family, friends, and co-workers from getting sick with the flu.

For more information about the influenza virus and the flu vaccines, visit www.stanemergency.com and https://vaccinefinder.org, respectively.