Clark County reports first fatality of 2016-17 flu season
Clark County has recorded its first flu-related death of the season — an elderly resident who was hospitalized before dying, the Southern Nevada Health District reported Wednesda.
Most details of the case, including the person’s gender and date of death, will not be released due to privacy concerns, but the district said the resident was 65 or older.
“Flu season surveillance has just begun and though activity is mild at this point, a flu-related death serves as a reminder that it can be a serious illness,” Dr. Joseph Iser, health district chief health officer, said in a news release. “It is important to take preventive measures including getting a flu vaccination each year, practicing healthy habits to protect yourself and your family.”
The case was one of three hospitalizations reported so far this season in Clark County.
The health district said there’s still time to receive annual flu vaccinations, which are suggested for all individuals 6 months and older, but especially for young children, pregnant women and the elderly.
The health district recorded 646 confirmed cases of the flu during the 2015-2016 flu season, resulting in more than 400 hospitalizations and 36 deaths.
A contagious viral illness, the respiratory illness can be mild to serious, with potential complications including bacterial pneumonia, dehydration and “worsening of chronic medical conditions, such as congestive heart failure, asthma or diabetes,” according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Contact Pashtana Usufzy at pusufzy@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-4563. Follow @pashtana_u on Twitter.
