YREKA, Calif. –The Siskiyou County Public Health Department said four men have died from the H1N1 strain since the beginning of January. They were between the ages of 38 and 65. Two of them died this week.
Don Hogun is one of hundreds that got a flu shot at the Siskiyou Health Department’s shot clinic. He said he’s not taking any chances this flu season.
“Alot of people that are sick in this county and I work at a prison camp so I have 80 inmates that I take care of there so I figured i’d better get it now,” said Hogun.
Terri Funk is the Director of Public Health and said it’s better late then never.This flu season they’ve given only 1,800 flu shots since Septemberand that’s not a lot.
“We want to get the word out to the public to be sure and get their flu shot because the strain for the flu does offer protection with the flu shot,” said Funk.
782 of those shots from the flu clinic at the department in Yreka that started last week. Funk says it’s necessary and life-saving.
“Nationwide we lose 36,000 people to the flu every year but they’re usually older people or really young people and this particular flu strain is affecting anddebilitatingour younger population.”
The main reason Hogun says he took action. He saidthe life of his children is a top priority during this deadly flu season.
“Some years I get it but some years I don’t. This year I’m not taking a chance.”
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