The Northern Kentucky Health Department says it has received word of the first death of this flu season.
The middle-aged Kenton County man had a history of chronic health problems that may have made him more susceptible to complications from the flu, the health department said.
“The loss of someone to the flu is a tragedy, and our thoughts go out to the individual’s family,” District Director of Health Dr. Lynne M. Saddler said in a news reles. “We tend to forget just how serious influenza can be, particularly for those with other health problems. Flu can lead to serious complications and even death, as it did in this case.”
Nationwide, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that a total of six children have died from flu through Dec. 28. Though it doesn’t track adult flu deaths nationwide, the CDC estimated 6.5 percent of all adult deaths were attributable to flu or pneumonia (a common complication of flu) for the week ending Dec. 28.
To date, more than 331 cases of flu have been reported in Northern Kentucky.
Statewide, Kentucky is reporting widespread flu activity, meaning that outbreaks of influenza or increases in influenza-like cases and recent laboratory-confirmed influenza in at least half the regions of the state with recent laboratory evidence of influenza in the state.
“The flu virus has several strains, and the predominant one that we’re seeing this winter is the 2009 H1N1,” Saddler said. “This particular strain tends to affect young and middle-aged adults disproportionately when compared to other strains. If H1N1 continues to circulate, then we expect to see more people in these age groups getting severe respiratory illnesses this year. Fortunately, H1N1 is included in all flu vaccines, so if you’re vaccinated, you’ll be protected.”