Health Officials: Flu-related death in Mobile

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - Mobile County health officials say a 34-year-old man died Monday, January 14 at a local hospital, a day after being admitted for flu-like symptoms.

The man, who lived in the 36603 ZIP code in Mobile County, also had underlying medical problems. He presented at the emergency room of a Mobile hospital on Sunday, January 13.

He died at 6:45 a.m. the next morning. A medical diagnosis provided to the Mobile County Health Department stated his death was caused from complications of Influenza A.

Because of federal privacy laws, no other information is available about the victim, health officials said.

Monica Knight, Director of the health department's bureau of disease control and environmental health, says everyone should take precaution regardless of their zip code.

The patient’s death comes as the number of cases of influenza continues to rise across Alabama and much of the nation. Typically, flu season peaks in February and March.

“We are saddened that even one person had to die from complications caused by the flu,” said Dr. Bernard Eichold, Health Officer for the Mobile County Health Department. “We are doing everything we can to prevent the spread of influenza," said Eichold.

Officials with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta have been tracking larger-than normal numbers of people contracting influenza across the country.

In Mobile, flu shots are available on weekdays without an appointment -- for $15 -- from 7:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. at the Health Department’s Immunization Clinic at 251 N. Bayou St.

The 2012-2013 flu vaccine is an inactivated vaccine that contains killed viruses and is given with a needle. It contains three seasonal influenza viruses that are grown in eggs. The vaccine will protect against three influenza viruses that research indicates will be most common during this flu season, health officials said. The seasonal flu vaccine is available to those 6 months of age and older.

According to Eichold, vaccination is especially important for people at higher risk of severe influenza and their close contacts, health care personnel and close contacts of children younger than 6 months old.

For more information, call the Health Department’s Immunization Clinic at 251-690-8821.