IDAHO, USA — According to Southwest District Health (SWDH), the first flu-related death of the season has been reported in southwest Idaho. An elderly woman from Gem County died, marking the 12th flu death in the state reported this season.
SWDH said the area is seeing a rise in the number of respiratory illness cases. The department is encouraging people to take precautions and get vaccinated.
"Southwest District Health officials encourage individuals to be aware of the signs and symptoms and to take preventive measures to keep themselves and their families healthy," a news release said Friday. "This year, the surge in respiratory disease is mainly attributed to three respiratory viruses circulating in the community: Respiratory Syncytial Virus (sin-SISH-uhl), commonly known as RSV, Influenza (Flu), and COVID-19."
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), vaccines protect people from severe illness and the RSV vaccine is approved for people over 60 and pregnant people during week 32 to 36 of their pregnancy and the COVID vaccine is approved for people over 6 months.
SWDH is reminding people that the flu, RSV and COVID do not usually cause severe symptoms but certain populations are more vulnerable like the elderly, young kids and people who are immunocompromised.
Tips for illness prevention from SWDH:
- Cover coughs and sneezes
- Wash hands frequently and correctly (with soap and water for 20 seconds)
- Avoid sharing cups and eating utensils with others
- Avoid touching your face with unwashed hands
- Avoid close contact with sick people
- Limit contact with others if you are sick to keep from infecting them
- Clean and disinfect surfaces such as doorknobs and countertops frequently
- Practice healthy habits such as eating whole nutritious foods, exercising, and recognizing the importance of your mental health
- If you catch the flu, antiviral drugs can be used to treat it during its early stages. Talk with your doctor if you become very sick with the flu and take antivirals if prescribed
- For more information people can go to swdh.id.gov or cdc.gov.
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