SPARTANBURG COUNTY, S.C. —

Health officials in North Carolina have confirmed the first flu-related death of the season, urging residents to get vaccinated and take precautions.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services said an adult in the western part of the state died last week due to complications from the flu. No further information about the individual will be released.

Last year, North Carolina had 544 flu-related deaths, which is the highest number reported since the 2009 H1N1 pandemic.

Health officials encourage people to get their flu shots and take the following precautions to protect against the spread of respiratory viruses:

Regularly wash your hands with soap and water or use an alcohol-based cleaner or sanitizer to prevent the spread of viruses to others

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