South Dakota has had its first influenza death of the 2010-2011flu season.

A Shannon County resident between the ages of 30 and 39 died afterbeing hospitalized with influenza A. According to the South DakotaDepartment of Health, the person had underlying healthissues.

A viral infection, influenza A attacks the respiratory system,causing symptoms such as fever, headache, extreme tiredness, drycough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose and muscle aches. Flu isnot the same as a stomach virus that causes diarrhea andvomiting.

South Dakota had 24 flu deaths and 431 flu-related hospitalizationsduring the 2009-2010 flu season, said Lon Kightlinger, stateepidemiologist.

So far this season, in addition to the death, the state has had 80confirmed flu cases and 32 flu-related hospitalizations.

“This unfortunate death is a reminder that flu can be a veryserious illness,” Kightlinger said.

He said vaccinations are the “single best way to prevent the flu”and said the state has plenty of vaccine available thisseason.

Beth Boersma, an infection-control nurse at Rapid City RegionalHospital, said it isn’t too late to get some benefit from the fluvaccine.

“It’s not too late,” she said. “It probably … would have beenbest to get it earlier before the numbers starting increasing …but I would still recommend it. along with hand washing and notgoing places and being around sick people, the vaccination is yourbest protection.” other preventive measures include containingsneezes and coughs, avoiding crowds and staying home whensick.

The Department of Health recommends vaccines for everyone butespecially encourages them for those in high risk groups, such aspregnant women, people older than 50 and people with chronic healthproblems. Children also account for a “significant” number of fluhospitalizations each year, Kightlinger said. for that reason, heencourages parents to take advantage of the state’s free vaccinesfor children ages six months to 18 years.

Symptoms of the flu can occur within one to three days afterexposure. A person with the flu is contagious beginning the daybefore the symptoms appear and for at least a week after initialsymptoms begin, according to the state Department of Health. A pastinfection with the flu generally gives a person immunity frombecoming ill again from that particular flu strain.

For more information about influenza, go online todoh.sd.gov/Flu.

Contact Lynn Taylor Rick at 394-8414.