The first influenza-associated death of the season killed a middle-aged man from the northern part of Los Angeles County who also had “significant pre-existing medical conditions, county public health officials announced Thursday.

The influenza virus strain was identified as type A by laboratory testing.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that an average of 24,000 influenza-related deaths occur in the country each year.

Public health officials expect that flu activity will increase as people get together for the holidays and as the winter season continues. County health officials and the CDC encourage those older than 6 months to get vaccinated every year.

More information about the flu can be found at: www.publichealth.lacounty.gov/acd/flu.htm