First Pa. flu death

The state health department says the death of an eastern Pennsylvania man has been confirmed as the first flu-related death of the season.

The 45-year-old Lehigh County man was confirmed to have the 2009 H1N1 influenza, which officials say is beginning to circulate in the commonwealth.

Officials say the year’s flu vaccine provides protection against that as well as two other strains of flu which “are very well matched with what is circulating in Pennsylvania.”

Health officials say more than 36,000 people across the nation die each year from flu-related complications, including about 1,000 each year in Pennsylvania.

Feed the Feed: Did you already get or are you currently planning to get a flu shot? Did you opt out of getting pricked? Tell us why – what factors determined your decision?

Now: squeeze in a quick hand-wash.