Man dies of flu in Idaho

Flu season in the Gem State has turned deadly this year.

A man over 60 in south-central Idaho died after having the flu, the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare said Monday.

Last season, 35 people in the state died of flu-related illnesses.

The dominant strain of flu being detected is H1N1, which began circulating in 2009. This strain appears to cause more severe respiratory illnesses to young and middle-aged adults than other strains.

The department said in addition to getting vaccinated, you can prevent the spread of flu by doing the following:

Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing to prevent infecting other people. Avoid people who appear sick. Stay home from work when sick. Wash your hands frequently, especially after being out in the public. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth until you have washed your hands. Get plenty of rest, drink plenty of liquids, eat nutritious foods and take part in physical activity to stay healthy.

“Our condolences go out to the family of the person who died from complications of the flu,” said Idaho Department of Health and Welfare Deputy State Epidemiologist Dr. Leslie Tengelsen in a news release. “This underscores how important it is for all of us to take precautions to avoid influenza infections. Now is the time to call your health care provider or local public health district and schedule an appointment to get vaccinated as soon as possible.”