Man in his 70’s is El Paso’s 1st flu death of the season
El PASO, Texas – A man in his 70's is El Paso's first flu-related death of the season, health officials said Monday.
“Although this gentleman was a senior, the majority of cases being seen this year are children,” said Robert Resendes, director of The City of El Paso Department of Public Heath.
As a result, Resendes urged parents to ensure their children are vaccinated against the virus because "the flu continues to circulate in our area."
He said the El Paso Fire Department continues to offer free flu shot clinics at its' Health & Outreach Center located at 5415 Trowbridge Drive on Wednesdays in January from 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Since the start of flu season in October, health officials said there have been 3,534 cases of flu in El Paso, which is up 47% for the same period during the 2018-2019 flu season. So far in the New Year, officials said a total of 2,407 cases of flu have occurred since Jan. 1.
In addition to getting vaccinated against the flu, Resendes said you can reduce your chances of catching and spreading the virus by washing your hands frequently, covering coughs and sneezes, and staying home if you're sick.
