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Fifth Flu-Related Death Reported In Kent County

Posted at 8:44 AM, Feb 13, 2014
and last updated 2014-02-13 08:44:35-05

flu-clinic-signGRAND RAPIDS, Mich (February 13, 2014) — A man over the age of 50 has become the fifth person in Kent County to die from the flu.

An initial test confirmed that he was infected with influenza A/H1N1, which is the most common strain people have been catching this season. However, the Kent County Health Department does not have the man’s medical history, so it’s not clear if he had underlying medical conditions.

The flu can spread through coughing, sneezing, and talking, or touching contaminated surfaces and then touching the mouth, eye, or nose. Symptoms include fever, chills, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, fatigue, vomiting, and diarrhea.

The Centers for Disease Control recommends a flu vaccine every year for people over 6 months of age. It takes about 10-14 days after getting vaccinated for a person to become immune to the virus.

The Kent County Health Department offers vaccines starting at $25 for the injection and $33 for the nasal spray. To make an appointment, call 616-632-7200 or go online.