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First State reports first flu case of the season

Delaware Public Media

Flu season has officially arrived in the First State.

The Delaware’s Division of Public Health has its first lab-confirmed case of 2016-2017 season.

It involved a 27-year-old Kent County man - who was not hospitalized. He had influenza A – one of the two main flu types responsible for seasonal flu outbreaks each year.

Last flu season, the First State had 2,064 confirmed flu cases and six flu-related deaths.

The first case of the new season comes as state officials begin their annual push for Delawareans to get a flu shot.   Thursday, DPH held drive-thru flu shot clinic in Dover.

State health officials recommend seniors, pregnant women and other vulnerable populations get their flu shot early – preferably in the next week.

They also encourage all Delawareans to take precautions to help prevent spreading the flu, like regularly washing your hands, covering coughs and sneezes and staying at home when sick.

Tom Byrne has been a fixture covering news in Delaware for three decades. He joined Delaware Public Media in 2010 as our first news director and has guided the news team ever since. When he's not covering the news, he can be found reading history or pursuing his love of all things athletic.
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