PIERRE, S.D. – Today, the South Dakota Department of Health reported the first influenza death of the 2021-2022 season.
“Our sympathy is with the family. Their loss serves as a reminder to us all that influenza can be a very serious illness,” said Dr. Joshua Clayton, state epidemiologist for the department. “It is not too late to get vaccinated for this flu season, and if you haven’t yet received your annual flu vaccination, the time to do so is now.”
Clayton noted that flu activity in communities across South Dakota is classified as local. In addition to one death, the state has reported 89 lab-confirmed cases of flu and 4 flu-related hospitalizations in the past week.
Each year, an average of 39 South Dakotan deaths are reported to the Department of Health following influenza infections.